Safe Computing Tips

While these steps are not foolproof, they will go a long way towards extending the life of your machine and protecting the valuable information contained on it.

Keep your computer updated

1.  In the evolving world of software viruses, it is essential that computer owners use anti-virus software and keep it up-to-date.  Most anti-virus software gives the user the ability to do automatic updates.

2.  Whether individuals choose to update their operating system software automatically or manually, we recommend making it a continuous process.  It is also important to keep other software on your computer updated.  Software updates often include essential bug fixes and security features that address existing vulnerabilities.

3.  Enable the personal firewall on your computer. This will help to keep unauthorized people from snooping around your computer when it’s connected to the Internet. 

Create strong, secure passwords

There is power in strong passwords.  We recommend passwords that contain at least 8 characters with a combination of letters, numbers and symbols.  Strong passwords are less likely to be hacked than very generic passwords.  Use creative pass-phases to avoid having to write down a password.  Do not share your passwords with anyone.

Back up important data

We have seen final papers vanish—hard drives crash and files become corrupt.  If you have important information that you cannot afford to lose, back it up.  We recommend that you store this information securely and even consider storing extra copies at another location.

Limit information on social media sites

People will post almost anything on social media site.  For many people, birth dates, anniversaries, addresses, phone numbers, and a lot of other personal information can be found on social media sites.  Protect yourself from identity theft and other scams by limiting what information you disclose online and who can see that information. 

Log off any public areas

Remember when using a public computer or network, it is just that…public.  Be sure that you completely log off the site or machine when you are finished using it.  Users should be especially mindful to uncheck boxes that will remember users’ login information when logging into online services, such as email and bank accounts. 

11 tips for social networking safety

Social networking websites like MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and Windows Live Spaces are services people can use to connect with others to share information like photos, videos, and personal messages. As the popularity of these social sites grows, so do the risks of using them. Hackers, spammers, virus writers, identity thieves, and other criminals follow the traffic.

Read these tips to help protect yourself when you use social networks.

1. Use caution when you click links that you receive in messages from your friends on your social website. Treat links in messages on these sites as you would links in email messages.

2. Know what you've posted about yourself. A common way that hackers break into financial or other accounts is by clicking the "Forgot your password?" link on the account login page. To break into your account, they search for the answers to your security questions, such as your birthday, home town, high school class, or mother's middle name. If the site allows, make up your own password questions, and don't draw them from material anyone could find with a quick search.

3. Don't trust that a message is really from who it says it's from. Hackers can break into accounts and send messages that look like they're from your friends, but aren't. If you suspect that a message is fraudulent, use an alternate method to contact your friend to find out. This includes invitations to join new social networks.

4. To avoid giving away email addresses of your friends, do not allow social networking services to scan your email address book. When you join a new social network, you might receive an offer to enter your email address and password to find out if your contacts are on the network. The site might use this information to send email messages to everyone in your contact list or even everyone you've ever sent an email message to with that email address. Social networking sites should explain that they're going to do this, but some do not.

5. Type the address of your social networking site directly into your browser or use your personal bookmarks. If you click a link to your site through email or another website, you might be entering your account name and password into a fake site where your personal information could be stolen.

6. Be selective about who you accept as a friend on a social network. Identity thieves might create fake profiles in order to get information from you.

7. Choose your social network carefully. Evaluate the site that you plan to use and make sure you understand the privacy policy. Find out if the site monitors content that people post. You will be providing personal information to this website, so use the same criteria that you would to select a site where you enter your credit card.

8. Assume that everything you put on a social networking site is permanent. Even if you can delete your account, anyone on the Internet can easily print photos or text or save images and videos to a computer.

9. Be careful about installing extras on your site. Many social networking sites allow you to download third-party applications that let you do more with your personal page. Criminals sometimes use these applications to steal your personal information. To download and use third-party applications safely, take the same safety precautions that you take with any other program or file you download from the web.

10. Think twice before you use social networking sites at work.

11. Talk to your kids about social networking.

5 Common Computer Security Mistakes

Computer security mistakes can be a painful and costly experience. The good news is that with a bit of thought, planning and vigilance you can effectively protect yourself. Here are 5 common computer security mistakes to avoid.

No Antivirus/antispyware software.

The key facet of this element of computer protection is keeping your software and virus definitions up to date. Most worthwhile anti-malware programs (the term “malware” includes viruses, spyware, Trojan horses, keystroke loggers and other forms of malicious software) make it easy to check the date of your last update and to easily launch the update process manually.
Since most anti-malware/antivirus software is sold on an annual basis you need to purchase a new license each year. If you let your license lapse you will be unprotected against any new malware. So even if you have an active antivirus program, but it expired six months ago, you will not be protect from any new viruses or malware that were released in the last six months since it expired. A definite security mistake.

No Firewall software.

Some people feel that having an antivirus program is all they need. A definite computer security mistake. Firewall software acts as a filter to protect your computer from malware and intruders. If some form of malware does get on your computer, firewall software can prevent malicious programs from connecting to the Internet.
Like antivirus software, the firewall software must be updated regularly. This is all the more reason to use an Internet security suite which ties these two important elements together for updating and renewing. At the very least, make sure that the built in Windows Firewall is enabled.

Not keeping Microsoft Windows, Office and Internet Explorer up to date through the Microsoft Updates process.

Microsoft produces software updates, patches and bug fixes for its products on a regular basis. Updates are free and can be manually downloaded or Windows can be set to automatically download and install them. Periodically Microsoft combines a group of these “updates,” adds some additional functionality and features, and delivers them in what is known as a Service Pack (SP). We strongly recommend that you install all service packs as they become available.
It is strongly recommended that you keep current with the latest version of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer web browser which is now up to version 9.0. At the very least no one should still be using Internet Explorer 6.0 as it presents serious security compromises to a computer. If you use the Mozilla Firefox browser, which is an excellent alternative to Internet Explorer, be sure to keep up with the latest updates and version through Firefox Updates.

No Email Spam Filter.

As most users are aware email spam is a huge culprit in the spreading of malicious software. Have a good spam blocking program and have it set to a high enough level. Some email packages such as Outlook, Yahoo mail and Gmail have built in spam blocking/capturing functionality. If your email program does not provide effective spam blocking there are a number of effective and relatively inexpensive spam blocking programs available from third party software publishers.

It is important to remember that spam filters are not 100% effective and some junk will get through. It is best to follow some email self-protection rules of thumb including:

1. Do not open email or email attachments unless you know who they are from.

2. Never download an attached file from an email that you weren’t expecting to receive.

3. Never click on “Unsubscribe” on an email that you suspect to be spam or junk mail. This will just tell spammers that your email address is active and you will likely end up getting more junk mail.

4. Never click on an email attachment with an .exe file extension such as “myfile.exe”. These are program files and clicking on them will begin running a program that could be nasty.

5. Never click on a link within a suspected spam email – just delete the message immediately.

Not keeping your various security components up to date.

This was mentioned earlier in this post and regardless of the specific parts and pieces that make up your security solution you need to pay attention to them periodically to make sure everything is up to date and functioning correctly. While most security components are updated automatically it is highly recommended that you check occasionally to make sure that these updates are taking place and that your components are up to date. New viruses, spyware and other security threats are released almost daily. If your software expires or gets out of date, your system becomes susceptible to new threats.


There are a number of elements that play a role in keeping your computer secure. Making sure you have the five items above covered will provide a significant level of protection. As mentioned in #5, vigilance is a key. It is also important to take immediate action if you think you have been infected. Letting a potential malware infestation go for days or weeks will make the problem worse and provide an opportunity for additional forms of malware to be downloaded onto your computer. Awareness of your computer and Internet security programs and settings will play an important role in keeping your computer and your network secure.

Basics for safer downloading

Whenever you download a file—whether you open a spreadsheet attached to an email message, grab a cool little screensaver or mouse cursor from the web, or download music or video files from someone else's computer—you could be putting your computer at risk.

You can take some basic steps to protect your PC and your company's network:

Firewalls.
These include hardware or software that checks information coming from the Internet and either turns it away or lets it pass. Firewalls are built into Windows XP Service Pack 2 and all later versions of the Windows operating system.

Antivirus protection.
Viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are programs that use the Internet to infect vulnerable computers. Microsoft Security Essentials offers free, real-time protection for your PC against malicious software. Or choose an antivirus program from a list of Microsoft partners who provide anti-malware software.

Spyware protection.
Spyware can display ads and pop-ups, collect information, and change your computer settings or default home page without you knowing about it. Use Windows Defender, which is available as a free download for Windows XP Service Pack 2 and is built into later versions of Windows. Or install your own antispyware program.

Software updates.
Regular updates to Windows help protect your computer against new viruses and other security threats. Be sure you're using the latest version of your web browser, and turn on the browser's security features.

Email spam filters.
Microsoft Outlook includes a junk email filter, as do many other email programs, along with additional features that can help block unwanted messages, disable links, and warn you about threatening content.

What do you do when an urgent message pops up on your PC saying you have a virus?

What do you do when an urgent message pops up on your PC saying you have a virus? The infection warning message might recommend you download a software package that looks legitimate; but it isn’t. This is a scam attempting to collect your money and personal and financial information.

Here’s your best defense against fake anti-virus software packages:
• Install a reputable anti-virus software package and only use it to scan your PC.
• Do not purchase anti-virus packages from a pop-up on your screen.
• Be very familiar with the way your anti-virus package looks and behaves.

Some great free antivirus programs are AVG and Microsoft Security Essentials.

Free texting apps can cut your bill

If you're paying big bucks for a text messaging plan, we want you to reduce that expense to zero pennies a month in your life! There are a number of apps available for free text messaging if you're a smart phone user.

Did you know the number of text messages sent in the United States last year was over 2 trillion? And the younger someone is, the more likely that all they do is texting and very little talking on the phone.

That's caused some cell phone companies to see this as a huge revenue source. To give you an example, AT&T has now gone to a $20/month text plan in a rate hike. (Or you can go on a family plan.) But they're both a waste of your money all around for two reasons.

First, there are practically zero expenses involved for the cell companies in delivering text messages. The technology sits on top of the already existing telecomm platform. Second, you can download free apps to your smart phone and text for nada while bypassing the cell company's own systems.

Both CNNMoney.com and The Los Angeles Times ran recent stories about some apps that you should consider giving a try.

As CNNMoney explains, "Dozens of [apps] offer 'free' text messaging services, which allow wireless customers to send and receive texts by piggybacking on their existing data plans. That means people who download [these apps]…are able to bypass the expensive texting plans offered by wireless companies."

Give these a try:



•BelugaPods.com

•Disco.com
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Google Voice
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GroupMe.com

•Kik.com

•textPlus.com



You may have also heard that Apple will have its own free app for easy interoperable text messaging for called iMessage coming soon. And Facebook already has something similar called Facebook Messenger.

So go through your cell bill. If you are throwing away your money -- and for an AT&T customer that can be $240 a year down the toilet -- take that money put it in your pocket (unless you are a stock holder of AT&T and want to increase your stock value!)

The day you should pay for text messaging is never. Try out these free choices. If you're happy, cancel the rip off text messaging plans from the big cell companies.

Useful Windows Tricks

1. Don't just maximize your windows—go full screen

When you need a really big window for viewing photos and videos, don't just maximize it: go full screen! This tip works great for viewing photos and videos at maximum size in Windows Explorer or Windows Media Player, utilizing screen space usually occupied by the header at the top of the screen and the taskbar at the bottom. Here’s how:

Open any photo in Windows Explorer, or open a photo or video clip in Windows Media Player. Do one of the following:

In Windows 7 and Windows XP, click the F11 key at the top of your keyboard.

The photo or video image enlarges to its maximum size and the title bar and taskbar are hidden.


To undo full-screen mode and restore the window to its normal view, press the Esc (Escape) key at the top of your keyboard


2. Customize the Navigation pane

You can use the navigation pane (the left pane) to find files and folders and display links to frequently used folders and other items. You can also move or copy items to a destination in the navigation pane.

If you don't see the navigation pane on the left side of an open folder window, click Organize, point to Layout, and then click Navigation pane to display it.

To customize the navigation pane in Windows 7
In an open folder or library window, click Organize, and then click Folder and search options.

In the Folder Options dialog box, click the General tab, and then do one or both of the following:

To show all the folders on your computer in the navigation pane, including your personal folder, select the Show all folders check box, click Apply to see the change, and then click OK.

To automatically expand the navigation pane to the folder that's selected in the folder window, select the Automatically expand to current folder check box, and then click OK.


More ways to customize your favorites in Windows 7

To add a folder, a saved search, a library, or even a drive as a favorite, drag it to the Favorites section in the navigation pane. Note: You can’t add individual file to Favorites, but you can add them to any folder in Favorites.

To change the order of favorites, drag a favorite to a new position in the list.

To restore the default favorites in the navigation pane, right-click Favorites, and then click Restore Favorite Links.

To view the folder where your favorites are stored, click Favorites in the navigation pane. Favorites are stored as shortcuts.

To remove a favorite, right-click the favorite, and then click Remove. This removes the favorite from the navigation pane—it doesn't delete the files or folders that the shortcut points to.


Add folders and files in Windows Vista

In Windows Vista, you can add folders to Favorite Links in the navigation pane so that you can open them from any folder window at any time. To do this, first open the folder that contains the subfolder you want to add. Then simply drag its icon from the original folder to where you want it in the navigation pane. You can also click Folders at the bottom of the pane and drag a folder from the folder list up into the Favorite Links section of the pane. Note: You can’t add individual files to Favorite Links, but you can add them to any folder in Favorite Links.




3. Pin a program or items to the Windows 7 taskbar

You know what would make a great taskbar? One where you could pin your favorite applications or files so that you could open them quickly from any window at any time. Guess what? You can.

In Windows 7, you can also pin shortcuts for favorite or frequently used files, folders, and websites to the Jump Lists for each of those programs to the taskbar.

Pin a program to the taskbar

To pin a program shortcut to the taskbar, do one of the following:

If the program is already running, right-click the program's button on the taskbar (or drag the button toward the desktop) to open the program’s Jump List, and then click Pin this program to taskbar.

Or if the program isn't running, click Start, find the program’s icon, right-click the icon, and then click Pin to Taskbar.

You can also pin a program by dragging the program's shortcut from the desktop or Start menu to the taskbar.

3 stubborn PC problems you can fix

Ever notice how each PC has a personality of its own? Or maybe even multiple personalities? In the course of a week, your computer may act friendly, moody, and sometimes downright mean.

However, don't take a hammer to your PC just yet. The following is a list of common symptoms and treatments to help even the most troublesome PCs. You don't even have to be a psychologist (at least not yet) to deal with your PC's neuroses.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista usually manage this automatically, but overall you'll find that these tips work for all versions of Windows, from Windows 95 to Windows 7.

1. You keep getting a "your system is running low on virtual memory" message

Perhaps you're more than familiar with this scenario: You're working on your PC and notice performance getting gradually slower and slower. Programs become harder to open and close. You wait forever for Web pages to be displayed. And then, you get some serious-sounding "virtual memory is too low" message, like the one in the following graphic.

Don't worry: This message isn't as scary as it sounds.


Virtual memory low message

Virtual memory is the space your computer uses when it's short of RAM (Random Access Memory), which is the memory used when running programs like Microsoft Office Word or Microsoft Office PowerPoint.

So what can you do to correct this problem and prevent this message from coming up in the future? The following are some solutions to keep your computer from displaying the "virtual memory minimum is too low" message.

Solution 1: Bump up the virtual memory size on your computer

The first solution is to increase your computer's virtual memory settings. To do so, you first need to determine how much RAM you currently have.

Windows 7: On the Start menu, click Control Panel, then click System.

In the left pane, click Advanced system settings. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.

Click the Advanced tab, and then, under Virtual memory, click Change.

Clear the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives check box.


Clearing the Automatically manage paging file size for all drives check box

Under Drive [Volume Label], click the drive that contains the paging file you want to change.

Click Custom size, type a new size in the Initial size (MB) or Maximum size (MB) box, click Set, and then click OK.

Note Increases in size usually don't require you to restart your computer for the changes to take effect, but if you decrease the size, you'll need to restart your computer. We recommend that you don't disable or delete the paging file.

Solution 2: Add more RAM to your computer

If you keep getting that dreaded "Your system is running low on virtual memory" message—even after you increase your computer's virtual memory—then you may need to buy more memory for your computer. To really work well:

Windows 7 needs at least 1 GB of RAM to run. See more system requirements for Windows 7.

Windows Vista needs at least 512 MB of RAM to run, but for some applications (like gaming) 1 GB or more of RAM is recommended.

Windows XP needs a minimum of 256 MB of RAM.

The more RAM you have, the better.

Find out how much RAM you have in your computer: On the Start menu, click Control Panel, then click System.

Under System, next to Installed memory (RAM), you can see the amount of RAM your computer has.

Note In some cases, Windows reports both the amount of memory that's installed on your computer and the amount of memory that's usable. If you're using a 32-bit version of Windows, the amount of usable memory might be less than the total amount of memory installed.

If you're at work, contact your company's IT administrator before updating the memory on your computer. They may have some memory available and can help you install it.

If you do need to purchase some more memory, stop by your local computer shop. You can probably buy memory from them, and they'll probably install it for you. Or, you can buy memory online.



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2. Your windows slide off the desktop—and you can't grab them

We're all familiar with moving program windows around the desktop. You can click-and-hold the window's title bar to move it around. But what do you do when you accidentally move a window's title bar off the desktop so you can't grab it anymore? The window is stuck in that inconvenient position.

Solution: Use your keyboard to help move your window

The trick to moving these stubborn program windows is to use your keyboard.

Use your keyboard to move a window:Select the program window you're trying to move, and then press ALT+SPACEBAR on your keyboard. The program's shortcut menu is displayed.


Accessing shortcut menu

Click Move.

Use your LEFT ARROW, RIGHT ARROW, UP ARROW, or DOWN ARROW keys to move the window so you can see its title bar on your screen.

After you move the window where you want it, press ENTER.



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3. Your taskbar has disappeared

The taskbar is that horizontal bar at the bottom or your computer screen that displays open programs on your desktop. The taskbar also contains the Start menu, which allows you to navigate to various programs installed on your computer. In many ways, it's your command central.

Thus, there's nothing more frustrating than going to start a program, only to find the taskbar gone. A computer without a taskbar will bring you to a grinding halt.

The good news is that the taskbar never disappears—it just hides. It may be hiding behind other open windows, or at the top or side of your screen. You can also (unintentionally) make the taskbar so thin that it seems invisible.

The following are possible reasons why your taskbar has vanished, as well as solutions to keep your taskbar from ever running away again.

Solution 1: Find your taskbar behind other windows

If you don't see your taskbar, minimize all windows on your desktop. See if your taskbar is hiding behind your open windows.


Finding your taskbar behind maximized windows

Set your taskbar so it's always on top of all desktop windows:

Right-click the taskbar, and click Properties.

Select the Lock the taskbar check box.

Make sure the Auto-hide the taskbar check box is not selected.


Locking and keeping the taskbar on top

Now your taskbar will always be visible, no matter how many windows you have open. Locking your taskbar also keeps you from accidentally moving it around.

Solution 2: Find your taskbar elsewhere on your screen

If you have tried minimizing all windows on your desktop and you still don't see your taskbar—perhaps it has been moved. Maybe you've moved it yourself by accident. Or, perhaps someone's playing a practical joke on you. Regardless, the following will help you get your taskbar back to its proper size.

As you did in the previous steps, minimize all windows on your desktop. If you don't see your taskbar at the bottom of the screen, perhaps it's hanging out to the side or at the top of your desktop.


Finding a hidden taskbar

Click-and-drag your taskbar back to the bottom of your screen.

Right-click the taskbar, and then click Properties.

Click to select the Lock the taskbar check box.

Solution 3: Thicken your taskbar

You can make your taskbar a thin line—so skinny it's hard to see. To see if you've done this unintentionally, perform the following:

Minimize all windows on your desktop. Look at each side of your screen. If you see a thin strip, that's the taskbar.


Finding a thin taskbar

Point your mouse at the strip. It changes into a double-sided arrow

Click-and-drag the mouse toward the center of the screen to thicken your taskbar.

After you thicken the taskbar, you can drag it back to the bottom of the screen by following the steps in "Solution 2" above.

5 ways thieves steal your credit

Personal data can be stolen in seconds, but knowing how it most often happens can help you protect yourself or, if you're a victim, minimize the damage.
Almost gone are the days of the good old-fashioned purse snatcher. With less brute force and more skill, thieves need only a minute, sometimes less, to pilfer your credit card data.

The schemes are simpler than you think. Here are the most common ways thieves pilfer your credit card information.

Suspects: The toy store trio
Modus operandi: Sally, Simon and Bud walk into a toy store. Sally and Simon roam the aisles, while Bud waits in line to check out. When Bud is at the register, Simon comes running up to the clerk, screaming that his wife has fainted. As Sally and Simon distract the salesclerk, Bud switches the credit card reader at the register with a modified one of his own, says FICO's fraud chief, Mike Urban. For the next week, the salesclerk unwittingly collects credit card data on the modified reader until the trio returns, takes back the modified reader and restores the original terminal.

Known whereabouts: The trio will hit other retailers and restaurants, but sometimes the threesome will instead be a twosome or a solo criminal.

Suspect: The waitress at the diner
Modus operandi: The waitress whisks away your credit card and swipes it through the restaurant's register. Then she pulls a small device -- about the size of an ice cube -- from her apron and swipes it through that, says Sgt. David Schultz of the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office in Texas. While you're scraping the last of the chocolate frosting from your plate, your credit card information has been stored in the device, known as a skimmer. The waitress returns your card and performs the same magic trick on dozens of credit cards in a week.

Known whereabouts: The data-stealing waitress has been known to moonlight as a bartender, salesclerk or at any other job that allows her to take your credit card out of sight.

Suspect: The Gas Lass
Modus operandi: The Gas Lass parks her car in front of a gasoline station off the turnpike. It's late. There's no one around except a sleepy attendant at the register inside. The Gas Lass attaches a skimmer over the credit card reader at the pump. It's a special skimmer: It emits a Bluetooth signal to a laptop close by, says Noonan. The Gas Lass pays, heads off to the motel next door and sets up her laptop to receive the data from the compromised pump over the next several days.

Known whereabouts: The Gas Lass installs skimmers over ATMs, parking meters, vending machines and other places with unmanned credit card readers.

Suspects: Harry the Hacker and Phishing Phil
Modus operandi: Harry the Hacker installs malware -- a type of software that damages or infiltrates a computer or network -- onto a legitimate website with low security. The malware instantly downloads onto your computer when you visit the site and allows Harry to access your information. In another scenario, Harry puts malware on public computers and gathers the information you share with that computer, says Urban. Harry also infiltrates the computer system of banks, retailers and other businesses and extracts personal account information, Noonan says.

Phishing Phil uses malware to go after your laptop. He sends emails with attachments that promise dancing kittens or some other bait. When the user opens the attachment, malware instantly downloads onto the computer and leaves confidential information vulnerable. Phil also sends emails from a familiar sender with a link to a contaminated website that installs malware onto your computer. Some malware, called spyware, allows Phil to capture every keystroke, including passwords to your financial accounts.

Suspects: The rest of the criminal crew
Modus operandi: So what happens to these pieces of data when they're in no-good hands? They get sold.

The waitress, trio or Gas Lass sells each swipe for $20 to $40, says Urban. Harry the Hacker and Phishing Phil will get $5 to $10 a card and may sell the information online. The person who buys the information verifies it and then sells it to a person who creates fraudulent credit cards with victims' account information attached to them. The card-maker then sells cards to other criminals who buy goods, such as stereos or baby formula, and sell them to regular consumers.

What you can do
1.Set up mobile alerts for your phone if your financial institution provides the feature. That way, you can be aware of unusual activity as quickly as possible.

2.Regularly monitor your accounts online, so you can identify fraudulent transactions faster.

3.Avoid public computers. Don't log on to your email if your bank corresponds with you there. WebAddo suggests setting up an email account just for your finances and checking it from safe locations.

4.Avoid doing business with unfamiliar online vendors. Stick to established merchants and websites.

5.If your information has been compromised, notify your financial institutions and local law enforcement, which will contact the Secret Service if necessary. Also notify any of the three major credit reporting agencies -- Experian, Equifax and TransUnion -- to set up a fraud alert on your credit reports.

6.Get Identity Theft Protection. If your data is compromised, companies such as Pre-Paid Legal can help you restore your good name.

Top free PC programs everyone should have

There are millions of free and open source projects available, many of them better than any commercially available product. Below is a short listing of what we think is the best out there, broken down into three categories.

Anti-virus and malware protection

Most PC users realize that they need protection on their computer or may have an installed anti-virus program from their computer manufacturer. What most don't realize is that there are free programs that are just as good and in some cases better than the commercial products. Below are our recommendations

Anti-virus program: Avast! or AVG

Malware / Spyware protection: Malwarebytes

Backup solutions

There are dozens of free and commercially available backup programs for computers. Unfortunately many of those backups are stored locally, meaning if your house were to catch fire, get robbed, or if you lost your backup discs all your data would be lost. This is why when dealing with important data we suggest users use online backup services.

Online backup solution: Mozy * or Dropbox or IDrive
* Free 2 or 5 GB of online backup for personal use

Browsers

Although Microsoft Internet Explorer comes pre-installed on Windows computers. There are several excellent free alternatives that everyone should try. These free alternatives can often be faster, have more options, and in many cases be more secure than Internet Explorer.

Internet Browser: Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome

Ever wonder how to clean out your computer?

Ever wonder how to clean out your computer? Many people do, because it’s not unusual to have your PC’s hard disk filled with games and other programs you no longer need. In fact, some technology analysts believe that we use less than 10 percent of the programs installed on our computers. The following instructions describe how to safely—and easily—uninstall old or unused programs and remove files from your Windows-based computer.

Decide which programs to purge

When planning a disk cleanup, the first step is to decide which programs you no longer need. You may want to keep only the programs you use regularly. For example, has it been a year since your child played that action game? Chances are good that you still have the original CDs anyway (if you want to reinstall it later), so perhaps it's time to wipe it off the hard drive.

If you don't know the purpose of a program that's on your hard drive, you can always use a favorite search engine, such as Bing, to see what it is. For example, if you don't plan to buy a camcorder, remove any preinstalled video-editing software that may have come bundled on your PC.

If it helps, make a list of programs you want to keep and others you can do away with or store on disk.


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Delete unused programs, beginning at the Start menu

While it’s easy to remove software, many novice computer users believe a program can be removed by simply deleting the program’s icon from the desktop. This method doesn’t work because the icon is only a shortcut to the real program, which consists of many files.

You can uninstall programs from your computer by using one of two methods, both located on the Start menu:

Uninstall from the All Programs list

Click the Start menu, and then click All Programs (or Program Files) to see a list of programs installed on your computer. Programs installed as part of a program group are identified by a folder icon in the list. When you click the program group, you should see an option that enables you to remove or uninstall the program. Click this option, and then follow the on-screen wizard to safely remove the program from your PC. You may be asked to restart your computer. Don’t restart the PC until after you have saved any files that are open.


You can follow an on-screen wizard to safely remove programs from your PC.

Uninstall from Control Panel

Some programs don’t give you the option to uninstall them from a program group, but you can uninstall them from Control Panel.

On the Start menu, click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:

Windows 7 and Windows Vista users: Click Uninstall a Program.

Windows XP users: Click Add or Remove Programs.

It may take a few seconds for this page to open, but when it appears, you’ll see a long alphabetical list of installed programs.


When you see the name of a program you no longer want on your hard disk, click it, and then do one of the following:

Windows 7 and Windows Vista users: Click Uninstall.

Windows XP users: Click the Remove or Change/Removetab (to the right of the program).

Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to safely remove the program. When it's finished, you will see the list again.

Go through the list, but leave those programs that you are unsure of. And don’t remove a program group if you use one of the programs. For example, if you use Microsoft Works Database, don’t uninstall Microsoft Works, because Works Database is part of it.

When you uninstall a program, you may also get a message that says that uninstalling the program may remove a file that is shared by another program. To be safe, keep these suggested files on your PC (they shouldn't take up much room on your hard disk, anyway). When you uninstall a game, the program may ask if you want to keep saved game files. If you think that you will reinstall and play this game again, you can choose to keep the files.


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Use System Restore

Your PC automatically creates restore points while you use your computer. That way, if you accidentally delete a program that you want to keep, you can restore your PC back to an earlier time to get the program back. To restore, on the Start menu, click All Programs (or Program Files), click Accessories, and then click System Tools. Click System Restore, and the program will guide you through the steps.

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Scan your computer for performance and security problems

You can also download a free safety scan from the Internet for your computer. The Windows Live OneCare safety scanner includes a virus and spyware scan, a free registry cleaner scan, and more. And while you’re doing these cleanup chores, you can also download and run Security Essentials to help ensure that your computer is free of viruses, spyware, and other malicious programs—at no charge.


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Delete files

This article focuses on uninstalling entire programs, but it's even easier to delete individual files. If your musical tastes have changed since you went through that country-and-western stage, you can easily delete downloaded music files or at least burn them to a CD to free some space on your PC.

Go to Computer (or My Computer) or Windows Explorer, highlight the files that you no longer want on your hard disk, and press the Delete key (or right-click the file name, and then select Delete). This will send your unwanted files to the Recycle Bin for safekeeping—until you're sure that you no longer want them. To free space on your computer, you’ll need to empty the Recycle Bin periodically. To empty the Recycle Bin, right-click the icon on your desktop, and then click Empty Recycle Bin.


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Remove temporary files

If you’ve downloaded a .zip or .exe file from the web and then installed the program on your hard disk, you can delete the original file. To delete the file, right-click the file name, and then click Delete.

And here’s a final tip to help keep your computer lean. If you want to free even more room on your hard disk, get rid of the temporary files that your computer amasses over time. Go to Computer (or My Computer) or Windows Explorer, and right-click the letter associated with your hard disk (usually C:). Click Properties, and then click Disk Cleanup.
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Format disks and drives

If you need to perform the ultimate cleanup on your computer and you need to know how to delete all files on your computer, learn about formatting disks and drives. Keep in mind, however, that this is not a reversible process, so be sure that you have a good reason to reformat your hard drive (for example, you have backed up all of your files and need to reformat the hard drive to install a new operating system, or you are selling your computer and need to remove all of the information on it).


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Harmful Software Spreads Viruses Using the latest News Headlines

Here's proof that criminals do keep up with current events:

The Federal Bureau of Investlgation and U.s. Better Business Bureau have issued a warning that U.S. military action in Pakistan has led to malicious software being launched to entrap those surfing for the latest news.

The online scams have been specificaiiy targeting social media sites, image search engines and emails links that lure victims with promises of specific details and photos of the successful military mtssion.

Here are some of the tips for online safety from the BBB:

- Adjust privacy settings on social network sites so it's more difficult for anyone
to post content to your page. Even "friends" can unknowinqly pass on software
viruses.
- Read emails carefully. Fake messages often have misspellings, bad grammar and unusual English usage.
- Never provide your bank account number or other private information when requested
through an email.
- Be a skeptic of links to videos or photos that are not widely available from respected news sources.
- Be wary of "free" offers noting any occasion, especially if it comes from an unknown company or website.

It is suggested that you spread the word to family and friends that this viral software is making the rounds.

3 ways to speed up your PC

By following a few simple guidelines, you can maintain your computer, help increase your PC speed, and help keep it running smoothly. This post discusses how to use the tools available in Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP Service Pack 3 to help make your computer faster, maintain your computer efficiently, and help safeguard your privacy when you're online.

Note: Some of the tools mentioned in this article require you to be logged on as an administrator. If you aren't logged on as an administrator, you can only change settings that apply to your user account.

1. Remove spyware, and help protect your computer from viruses
Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the websites you visit to user names and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer's performance.
Download Microsoft Security Essentials for free to help guard your system in the future from viruses, spyware, adware, and other malicious software (also known as malware). Microsoft Security Essentials acts as a spyware removal tool and includes automatic updates to help keep your system protected from emerging threats.

The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool is another utility that checks computers running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 for infections by specific, prevalent malicious software, including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom, and helps remove any infection found.

2. Free up disk space
The Disk Cleanup tool helps you to free up space on your hard disk to improve the performance of your computer. The tool identifies files that you can safely delete and then enables you to choose whether you want to delete some or all of the identified files.

Use Disk Cleanup to:

Remove temporary Internet files.
Delete downloaded program files, such as Microsoft ActiveX controls and Java applets.
Empty the Recycle Bin.
Remove Windows temporary files, such as error reports.
Delete optional Windows components that you don't use.
Delete installed programs that you no longer use.
Remove unused restore points and shadow copies from System Restore.

Tip: Typically, temporary Internet files take the most amount of space because the browser caches each page you visit for faster access later.

To use Disk Cleanup:

Windows 7 usersClick Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.

When Disk Cleanup has calculated how much space you can free up, in the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list.
Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK.

For more options, such as cleaning up System Restore and Shadow copy files, under Description, click Clean up system files, and then click the More Options tab.

When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click Yes.
After a few minutes, the process completes and the Disk Cleanup dialog box closes, leaving your computer cleaner, performing better, and potentially increasing your PC speed.

Windows Vista usersIn the Start menu, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup.

In the Disk Cleanup Options dialog box, choose whether you want to clean up your own files only or all of the files on the computer.

If the Disk Cleanup: Drive Selection dialog box appears, select the hard disk drive that you want to clean up, and then click OK.

Click the Disk Cleanup tab, and then select the check boxes for the files you want to delete.

When you finish selecting the files you want to delete, click OK, and then, to confirm the operation, click Delete files. Disk Cleanup then removes all unnecessary files from your computer. This may take a few minutes.

The More Options tab is available when you choose to clean files from all users on the computer.

Windows XP usersClick Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Cleanup. If several drives are available, you might be prompted to specify which drive you want to clean.

In the Disk Cleanup for dialog box, scroll through the content of the Files to delete list.

Clear the check boxes for files that you don't want to delete, and then click OK.
When prompted to confirm that you want to delete the specified files, click Yes.
After a few minutes, the process completes and the Disk Cleanup dialog box closes, leaving your computer cleaner and potentially performing better.

3. Speed up access to data
Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk as a file is opened (to piece it back together). The response time can be significantly longer.

Disk Defragmenter (sometimes shortened to Defrag by users) is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end to end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.

In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals (weekly is optimal), there are other times you should run it, too, such as when:

You add a large number of files.
Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.
You install new programs or a new version of the Windows operating system.

To use Disk Defragmenter:

Windows 7 usersClick Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.

In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, click the drives that you want to defragment, and then click the Analyze disk button. After the disk is analyzed, a dialog box appears, letting you know whether you should defragment the analyzed drives.

Tip: You should analyze a volume before defragmenting it to get an estimate of how long the defragmentation process will take.

To defragment the selected drive or drives, click the Defragment disk button. In the Current status area, under the Progress column, you can monitor the process as it happens. After the defragmentation is complete, Disk Defragmenter displays the results.

To display detailed information about the defragmented disk or partition, click View Report.

To close the View Report dialog box, click Close.

You can also schedule the Disk Defragmenter to run automatically. (Your computer might even be set up this way by default.) Under Schedule, it reads Scheduled defragmentation is turned on and then displays the time of day and frequency of defragmentation. If you want to turn off automatic defragmentation or to change the time or frequency, click Configure schedule (or Turn on Schedule, if it is not currently configured to run automatically). Change the settings, and then click OK.

To close the Disk Defragmenter utility, on the title bar of the window, click the Close button.

Windows Vista users Open Disk Defragmenter: Click the Start button, click All Programs, click Accessories, click System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, click the drives that you want to defragment and then click the Analyze disk button. After the disk is analyzed, a dialog box appears letting you know whether you should defragment the analyzed drives.

Tip: You should analyze a volume before defragmenting it to get an estimate of how long the defragmentation process will take.

To defragment the selected drive or drives, click the Defragment disk button. In the Current status area, under the Progress column, you can monitor the process as it happens. After the defragmentation is complete, Disk Defragmenter displays the results.

To display detailed information about the defragmented disk or partition, click View Report.

To close the View Report dialog box, click Close.

You can also schedule the Disk Defragmenter to run automatically. (Your computer might be set up this way by default.) Click Modify schedule....

In the Disk Defragmenter: Modify Schedule dialog box, choose how often, which day, and at what time of day you want defragmentation to occur, and then click OK.

Click OK again.

Windows XP users Click Start, point to All Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.

In the Disk Defragmenter dialog box, click the drives that you want to defragment and then click the Analyze button. After the disk is analyzed, a dialog box appears, letting you know whether you should defragment the analyzed drives.

Tip: You should analyze a volume before defragmenting it to get an estimate of how long the defragmentation process will take.

To defragment the selected drive or drives, click the Defragment button. Note: In Windows Vista, there is no graphical user interface to demonstrate the progress—but your hard drive is still being defragmented.

After the defragmentation is complete, Disk Defragmenter displays the results.

To display detailed information about the defragmented disk or partition, click View Report.

To close the View Report dialog box, click Close.

To close the Disk Defragmenter utility, on the title bar of the window, click the Close button.

Running Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter on a regular basis is a proven way to help keep your computer running quickly and efficiently.

Facebook password scam warning!

If you get an e-mail telling you your Facebook password has been changed and a new one Is attached, delete it immediately -- it's the latest Facebook scam, according to an alert from the Better Business Bureau.

Here's what it looks like:

From: Facebook, Artemus Rubert [mailto:amazor@facebook.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 22, 2010 2:48 AM
To: MY EMAIL ADDRESS DELETED
Subject: Facebook password has been changed.

Dear user of facebook.
Because of the measures taken to provide safety to our clients, your password has been changed.
You can find your new password in attached document.
Thanks,
Your Facebook.


"With 500 million users, Facebook is one of the largest breeding grounds on the Internet for 'phishing' scams," said BBB President Tom Bartholomy in a statement. "Scammers are looking for any hook to get you to click on their links or attachments so they can get to your personal information."

The BBB warning comes exactly one day after their last Facebook scam alert, cautioning users to beware of another phishing scam known as "clickjacking," which tricks users into clicking on a link that triggers a program bombarding their e-mail accounts and everyone in their address books with spam.

Although Facebook did not immediately respond to a request from Consumer Ally to comment, these scams are literally becoming a daily occurrence, due primarily to the extraordinary amount of Facebook users, which at half a billion, exceeds the population of every nation on earth -- apart from India and China.

If Facebook's rapid growth continues, it's on course to exceed the total number of Internet users in China, which the Economist places at 420 million. According to Facebook, more than 50% of its 500 million active users log on in any given day and spend more than 700 billion minutes per month on the social networking site.

Apart from the enormous target of opportunity presented by the sheer number of Facebook users, scammers are undoubtedly aided by the fact that many Facebook users are young, and as such, probably more gullible and prone to click before they think.

The BBB urges Facebook users to be on the alert for the following red flags to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft:

Password changes -- Facebook is NOT going to send you an e-mail with a new password. If Facebook suspects fraudulently activity with your account, it will send a direct message to your Facebook account, and instruct you to go to your "Settings" button to change your password yourself.

Attachments/Links -- You should always be suspicious of e-mails that instruct you to download an attachment or click on a link. Attachments and links are the primary methods by which viruses, spyware and malware are spread.

E-mail address – If you only have your personal email address on your Facebook account and you get a "Facebook" e-mail on your business account, you should be suspicious and not open the e-mail.

Grammar, punctuation and typos – The grammar and incorrect punctuation used in the latest e-mail scam indicates that English is probably not the sender's first language. "Dear user of Facebook" is an example. In American English, it would more likely be "Dear Facebook User." Grammatical errors and awkward phrasing are tip-offs that the sender is probably in another country and that the e-mail is a scam. This is a red flag for any suspect e-mail you get, as most corporations will have any written information they send out to users and clients professionally copy edited.

The BBB also offers this general advice to stay safe online:

Delete any suspicious e-mails as soon as you receive them.
Do not click on any links.
Do not download any attachments.
Do not call any telephone numbers that may be in the e-mail.
Protect your computer with a good quality, up-to-date, anti-virus software program.
Since many Facebook users are young people, parents should talk to their children about Facebook scams and how to spot them. Young people are very computer savvy, but may not be scam savvy.

Danger: Facebook 'Dislike Button' Is Just Another Scam

Not to be party poopers or anything, but you know all those statuses you've seen on your friends' Facebook profiles, claiming to have finally installed that elusive 'Dislike Button?' Totally fake. Tragic news, we know, but, as of now, there's still no official dislike button, and anyone with a status claiming otherwise is just another victim of the latest scam to hit Facebook. As Sophos explains, the scam seems to be spreading through status updates that read, "I just got the Dislike button, so now I can dislike all of your dumb posts lol!!" or, alternatively, "Get the official DISLIKE button NOW!" Both versions, predictably enough, are followed by a link.

Of course, you're not gullible enough to actually click on the link, because if you did, you'd end up on a page asking you to 'install' the button. At this point, your internal alarms should go off, because if the dislike button were real, Facebook would've just automatically added it to your profile. If, on the other hand, you go ahead and click through the installation process, you'll have to first grant the app permission to run on your profile. The app will then automatically post the same link and message to your profile, before asking you to fill out a survey in order to complete the installation. Upon filling out the survey, you'll land on a Firefox add-on called FaceMod, which offers something called the "Facebook Dislike Button (the Original)."

At this point, it doesn't seem like the FaceMod add-on has anything to do with this scam, aside from providing a convenient cover for whoever's trying to make a few cents off these surveys. There's also no indication that the add-on is corrupt or malicious -- but it's definitely not official. So if you want to install FaceMod's button, you should probably do so directly from Mozilla's add-on site, and not through some suspicious link you find on your Facebook feed. For our money, though, we'd recommend holding off until an authentic dislike button comes along -- even if it means waiting for a long time.

How to Tighten Your Browser's Security

One of the most basic ways to protect your computer from potentially harmful online content or malicious software is easy, fast and free. How? Just make sure your browser's security settings are set at the appropriate level.

No matter which browser you use, always follow these top five security tips:

1. Delete spam messages without opening them or replying to them.
2. Use great caution when clicking on links sent to you in e-mail or text messages.
3. Do not open e-mail attachments unless you know the sender and you're expecting the attachment.
4. Create strong passwords. Use different passwords for your online banking accounts.
5. Make sure you use a firewall, as well as antivirus and antispyware software that is automatically updated.

What are the security settings on your browser? Here's how you can find out in Internet Explorer and Firefox.

How to check your Internet Explorer security settings:
1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click the Tools button and then click Internet Options.
3. Click the Security tab.

You will see four security zones:
• Internet: The level of security for the Internet zone is applied to all Web sites by default. The security level for this zone is set to medium-high, but you can change it to either medium or high. The only Web sites for which this security setting is not used are those in the Local Intranet zone, or sites that you specifically entered into the Trusted or Restricted Site zones.

• Local Intranet: The level of security for the Local Intranet zone is applied to Web sites and content that is stored on a corporate or business network. The security level for the Local Intranet zone is set to medium, but you can change it to any level.

• Trusted Sites: The level of security for Trusted Sites is applied to sites that you have specifically indicated to be ones that you trust not to damage your computer or information. The security level for Trusted Sites is set to medium, but you can change it to any level.

• Restricted Sites: The level of security for Restricted Sites is applied to sites that might potentially damage your computer or compromise your personal information. Adding sites to the Restricted zone does not block them, but it prevents them from using scripting or any active content. The security level for Restricted Sites is set to high and cannot be changed.

As you move around the Internet, IE automatically changes the security zone as needed and sets your security level for each Web site by default, ranging from low or medium-low for a corporate Intranet site, to high for a restricted site.

How to view or change the security settings on Internet Explorer 7/8:
In addition to these default security levels, you can customize individual security settings.

1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click the Tools button and then click Internet Options.
3. Click the Security tab.
4. Click the "Custom level..." button.
5. At the bottom of the pop-up box, you can reset the security setting to something higher or lower. Settings that are not at recommended levels will be highlighted in red.
6. If you modify your security settings and want to change them back to the default level, follow the above instructions through step 4. Then click on the "Reset all zones to default level" button.

How to view or change the security settings in Firefox 3x:

To make sure your security settings offer you the most protection, do the following:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click on the Tools button and then click Options.
3. Click on the Security tab.

Step 1: Make sure the first three blocks are checked:

• Warn me when sites try to install add-ons.
Firefox will always ask you to confirm installations of add-ons. To prevent unrequested installation prompts that may lead to accidental installations, Firefox warns you when a Web site tries to install an add-on and blocks the installation prompt.

• Block reported attack sites.
Firefox will check whether the site you are visiting may be an attempt to interfere with normal computer functions or send personal data about you to unauthorized parties over the Internet.

• Block reported Web forgeries.
Firefox will actively check to determine whether the site you are visiting may be an attempt to mislead you into providing personal information, often referred to as "phishing."

Step 2: Passwords

Firefox saves your passwords by default, but if anyone else ever uses your computer, turn this feature off to protect your password security. To do this:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click on the Tools button and then click Options.
3. Click on the Security tab.
4. Uncheck "Remember Passwords for Sites."

If you share your computer with others, you can set a Master Password in Firefox. This allows you to keep secure the username and passwords of Web sites you visit so no one else but you can access this information. To set a Master Password:

1. Open Firefox.
2. Click on the Tools button and then click Options.
3. Click on the Security tab.
4. Click "Use a master password." You'll be prompted to enter a password. (You can also follow these steps to change your Master Password.) A password-quality meter will judge the security of the password you have chosen.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you remember your Master Password! Without it, even you will not be able to access any of the information it protects or change the password.

Step 3: Warning Messages
1. Open Firefox.
2. Click on the Tools button and then click Options.
3. Click on the Security tab.
4. Click the Settings button that appears to the right of "Choose which warning messages you want to see while browsing the web."
5. At minimum, make sure the box is checked for "I am about to view a page that uses low-grade encryption."

Safe Surfing this Summer

• Use security software that updates automatically.

Anti-virus software protects your computer from viruses that can destroy data, crash your computer or slow it down tremendously. Viruses can even allow spammers to send e-mail through your account. Anti-virus works by scanning your computer and your incoming e-mail for viruses, and then deleting them.

Anti-spyware software detects software that has been installed on your computer without your consent for the purposes of monitoring and/or controlling your Internet usage. Spyware can send pop-up ads, redirect you to websites you never intended to visit, and capture your keystrokes. All of this may be done to steal your identity or other personal information.

Firewalls guard against attempts to send your personal information out from your computer without your permission. A firewall will block communications to and from sources that you don’t permit.

• Be sure to use the privacy settings provided by your social network provider. Facebook, MySpace and other sites provide security settings. It’s up to you to use them.

In addition to technical protections, you should also take some physical precautions when traveling to protect electronic devices – both personal and company-assigned.

• Don’t let your PC or other mobile device out of your sight. You never know who is watching. Airports, coffee houses and other hot spots are perfect locations for someone to pick up and walk off with your device.

When traveling by air – don’t store your devices in checked luggage. You should always carry it on. Luggage is often damaged, misdirected or lost. If your device is with you at all times, you minimize that risk.

When traveling by vehicle – remember that parked cars are a popular target for theft. That’s especially true if merchandise or electronic equipment is visible through windows. If you must leave your device in the car, keep it out of sight.

In coffee houses and restaurants – don’t leave your device “just for a minute.” As quickly as you turn your back, someone could swipe your PC, BlackBerry or iPad from the table and exit the building.

In hotel rooms – try not to leave your electronic devices behind. If you must, use the in-room safe to store your belongings. You may also consider using the “Do Not Disturb” sign to discourage anyone from entering your room.

Taking just a few precautions will help ensure a summer of safe surfing . . . Web surfing, that is.

My Computer Takes Forever to Boot Up!

A friend calls -- did you get my email? Did you see that hilarious video? Have you heard that new song? You turn your computer on, eager to see what the fuss is all about … and wait. The little hourglass taunts you, tempts you, but you know clicking won't help. The hard drive grinds away. Speaking of grinding, maybe it's time to get a cup of coffee. Sigh.
One of the most common complaints we hear is how long it takes to start up a computer. In some cases it can take as long as 20-30 minutes before a PC is really ready to go. Some choose to get around that problem by leaving their computers on all the time, but that's a waste of electricity, and it may not be good for the overall health of a home computer to be left running 24/7. Isn't there a better way?

Older computers are, of course, more likely to suffer from these symptoms. But simply buying a new computer isn't a feasible solution for everyone, especially when times are tough. Nor is cracking open your PC's case to add memory. Rather, there are steps one can take without spending a lot of money -- and without using a screwdriver -- that can help reduce the time it takes to start up.

A Word About Anti-Virus Software

Before we begin, we would be remiss if we didn't mention anti-virus software. It's true that running anti-virus software will cause some delay in startup. But we do NOT recommend removing anti-virus software to improve startup speed -- such protections are a crucial defense against online threats. Rather, we recommend that you ensure you're running updated security software -- newer versions tend to be better about hogging system resources. For more information, look at previous issues of our blog or visit us at facebook.com/WebAddo.

Startup Slowdown

One of the primary culprits on a slow-starting PC is the array of junk that has been placed on the machine by the programs we use (and don't use). Many of the programs installed on our computers require the PC to do something at startup so they'll load more quickly when you want to use them. But often there are programs we no longer use, or use rarely, that are bogging down boot-up.

You can see what programs are on your computer's startup list by clicking the Start button, then Run, then typing MSCONFIG, then pressing Enter. The System Configuration Utility appears -- click the Startup tab. This displays everything that loads in the background when you start your computer. If it's a very long list, it's probably slowing you down.

Look through the list and see if you recognize anything you don't or rarely use. Be careful -- you don't want to remove everything! We recommend leaving any drivers for your graphics/video controller and other peripherals, as well as any antivirus or firewall software. But if you look closely you can probably spot unnecessary extras that could be eliminated.

A process library site (which you can find in Search) can help explain what individual startup items do and if they are needed. If you find a program you can live without, uncheck it on the list; when you're done, click OK and you will be prompted to reboot.

Font Fog

Another little-known trick is to remove fonts. Each time Windows starts up, it loads every font on your machine. The more fonts you have, the longer it takes. Most of us tend to use the same few fonts for almost everything we do, so if you find your computer has more than a few hundred installed, you may want to consider cleaning out the list.

The steps for removing fonts varies by the version of Windows you're using, but here are instructions for Windows XP from Microsoft Support. One thing to consider before you remove any fonts is whether you might want them back one day. If that's the case, you can remove fonts from the Fonts Folder and copy them elsewhere on your hard drive; doing so will prevent the fonts from loading at startup, but make it easier for you to restore them if you change your mind down the road.

Other Ideas

A little "spring cleaning" on your computer often helps improve performance. Getting rid of old files, cleaning and defragmenting your hard drive, removing viruses and spyware, and uninstalling software you no longer use helps your machine run more efficiently. For tips and tricks to help speed up your PC, click here.

Finally, if you're not sure about making these kinds of changes on your own, there's software that can help do it for you. AOL offers System Mechanic and PerfectSpeed, both of which help speed up a struggling PC by removing unnecessary startup items, cleaning your hard drive, updating your Windows registry and more.

New porn virus holds your browsing history hostage

In the beginning, most computer viruses were simply aimed at causing trouble for users and giving the virus creator bragging rights. But increasingly, these individuals and organizations are writing viruses aimed at making them rich. The most recent example is a virus that threatens to publish your browsing history online unless you pay a ransom of $15.

The virus which is reportedly the work of a Japanese gang, infects computers that connect to a Winni, a popular file-sharing site in Japan that claims up to 200 million users, and enables the download of an illegal game file. Once users download the infected file, the program takes a screenshot of the the sites they have visited online, often including sites that users wouldn't want their spouses, family, friends and employers learning about; and puts it online under their name.

If the user doesn't pay $15 U.S. immediately, the file will go live online and eventually be picked up by Google and incorporated into search results. With more employers turning to Google for a look at job candidates, this type of information could be a deal breaker if you've been surfing the seedier side of the Web.

In the instance of the Kenzero virus, the BBC reports that 5,500 individuals have already admitted to being a victim of the virus, which was distributed in a target-rich environment. The Winni file-sharing site is known for, amongst other file types, pornographic material. Combine the potential for embarrassment with the relatively low ransom and the virus-writing gang has the potential to make a significant amount of money (and gather credit card details as well).

The easiest way to avoid viruses like this is to avoid downloading copyrighted material illegally. In addition, you should also be sure to have an up-to-date antivirus program like AVG Free or the reputation-checking Norton 360, to keep you protected from viruses that make their way to your computer. If you do become the victim of a ransom-ware virus, don't give the criminal your credit card number, unless you want that information sold to the highest bidder.

While you're at it you should look at using your browser's private browsing mode when you are visiting sites that you don't want to share with other users of your computers, or in this case the world. In private browsing mode, the browser doesn't store information about the sites you visit. Here's how to turn on private browsing in Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari and Internet Explorer.

Now go out and surf -- but be careful out there!

Never Say THIS on Facebook or Twitter

The most dangerous thing you can post to your Facebook page or Twitter account is information about where you're going when you are not at home.

By telling the world you are on vacation in the Bahamas, or even just eating at your favorite local restaurant, you're letting potential thieves know that you're not at home.

Financial writers Ken and Daria Dolan warn that how you use Facebook and Twitter can be hazardous to your wealth!

"Burglars are fond of your constant updates," the Dolans told AOL. "Would you stand up in the middle of a crowd of strangers and announce that you're leaving on vacation for three days and then tell everyone your address? Of course not, but that's exactly what you are doing if you share such information online."

They cite the case of an Arizona man who told his 2,000 Twitter followers that he was leaving town. When he returned, he found his home had been burglarized and video equipment, worth thousands of dollars, had been stolen. "Even saying you are running to the mall, going out to dinner...is too much information," the Dolans explained to AOL.

One Web site recently found itself in the news for bringing attention to the problem. The site pleaserobme.com was designed to show how easy it is for anyone to sift through Twitter updates for a "feed" of people's current locations. The recent buzz caused confusion, because of course the site was not intended to give criminals the keys to your home. But it did achieve its goal of bringing much-needed attention to the potential danger.

Some insurance companies are catching on.
Legal & General Insurance in New England says Facebook and Twitter users could be hit with higher homeowner's insurance premiums. Why? All that blabbing about activities away from home means they face a higher risk of burglary.

The company thinks burglars are actually "shopping" for victims on social media sites, looking not only for an indication you're not at home, but also photos of your home and valuables. That cute picture of your son hugging the dog? A burglar is looking in the background, eyeing your big-screen TV and new stereo system.

And it's not just adults. Teenagers are even more likely to post personal information, so Legal & General has warned that parents who aren't even online themselves could face higher homeowner's insurance premiums if their children are online.