Some Simple Rules to Follow to Make Computing Safer

1. Never reply to an unsolicited email.  SPAMers are just waiting to find out that they have a live address on their list.  Replying to a SPAM message, even with the premise of removing yourself from their mailing list, will get your email address sold to thousands of other SPAMers.

2. If you receive an email telling you to follow a link to update your account information, delete it.  There are criminal enterprises out there called Pfishers.  Pfishers are quite sophisticated, and create web pages that are mirrors of the real site.  If you follow the link in an email, you may be giving criminals your login and password information.  They can then use this information to drain your bank accounts, run up charges on your credit cards, and cause you all kinds of other “Identity Theft” problems.  If you think it may be real, go to the home page of whoever is hosting the account in a fresh browser, log in and do what you need to do.  If you are unsure, call the hosting organization and ask them what to do.

3. Never download a free program from the Internet.  There are of course a few exceptions to this rule, but if you are not sure, DON’T.  Most free programs are worth exactly what you paid for them, and some have free extra bonuses like adware, spyware, and other reporting programs that compromise your privacy, your identity and even possibly your data.

4. Practice safe surfing habits.  Be careful what sites you visit.  DO NOT EVER GO TO PORNOGRAPHY SITES.  These sites are often located off shore, and are therefore not subject to American laws.  These sites also operate under a cloak of anonymity.  Most cases where machines have been compromised by these sites go unreported.  For some strange reason, while these are some of the most visited sites on the web, no one ever wants to admit that THEY actually visit them.  These sites are known sources of adware, spyware, Trojans, viruses and many other forms of malware.

5. If you download music – do it legally.  Many times outlaw music download sites that allow free downloads also supply spyware, adware, and sometimes even use your HDD space to store things.  The Justice Department is cracking down on free download sites, and when they do, they are using their user lists to target for prosecution.

6. When you buy a new computer for home or office; do not even turn it on without having it configured and secured by a professional.  Problems programs can install themselves, and be hard to remove.  Even once removed, some of these things leave changes in the Windows Registry that can be hard to undo.  A professional can also make the recommended changes from a Windows default installation.  These changes will cut down, or virtually eliminate the hard drive fragmentation caused by the operating system.

7. If you think your machine may have been compromised, shut it down and seek professional help.  If a machine has been hit with a virus, trojan or spyware; the longer it is up and running, the more damage can be done.