Ten Things You Should Do to Your Computer Today

Don Yarman & Jim MannOLC IT DivisionSmall Libraries ConferenceMay 2006

The First Four Things

1. Automatic Updates2. Firewall3. Antivirus4. Adware/Spyware Removal

That’s the bottom line; you may go to another session.If you want to know more or want to argue, please stay.

Our Objectives

Doing anything is better than doing nothing. Any recommendations may not be the absolute

“best” thing you can do -- that’s a moving target anyway.

We’ll present a baseline of what you must do, some recommendations of how to do it, and we’ll discuss what you can do above and beyond the minimum.

Credit where it’s due

OPLINTECH list, 30 June 2004“How to keep your PC spyware and malware free for nothing!”Jim Kenzig, Cuyahoga County PLhttp://www.thinworkplace.com/article_read.asp?id=62

WindowsSecrets.com“Security Baseline”

What I’m talking about

Personal computers (at home or library)

Windows operating system (esp. XP)

Any Internet connection (esp. broadband)

1. Enable Automatic Updates

Latest service packs and hot fixes To enable:

Go to your Control Panel Automatic Updates or Security Center Second or Third radio button

Second option? You have to install Third button not good choice if you don’t have

broadband at home

Older PC without Automatic Updates

Update manually through Internet Explorerhttp://update.microsoft.com

Scan for and install all critical updates Return repeatedly to get all updates New Microsoft Update includes Office

(Do you know where your Office disks are?)

2. Install a good firewall

If you have Windows XP, enable Windows Internet Connection Firewall.

[Automatically enabled in Service Pack 2]

Directions on Microsoft sitehttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/learnmore/icf.mspx

Not Windows XP?

Obtain good software or purchase router with a hardware firewall

Norton/McAfee firewall and antivirus WindowsSecrets.com recommends Linksys hardware

firewalls and ZoneAlarm Security Suite 6http://www.zonelabs.com

With software firewalls, the first time that you run any program that tries to access the Internet, a pop-up will ask if you want to allow it. (You will be amazed).

3. Maintain Antivirus

No excuses. Review leaders: ConsumerSearch.com says

“Smart Computing, PC Magazine, CNet.com” Best: McAfee Virus Scan 2006 (with complaints) Free: Avast! 4 Home edition

http://www.avast.comGrisoft AVG Free editionhttp://www.free.grisoft.com

Spend the money. Update definitions daily.

Opinions are like…um….

4. Remove Adware

Best: SpyWare Sweeperhttp://www.webroot.com/

Runner Up: Spyware Doctorhttp://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/

Free: Microsoft Windows Defender [beta]http://www.microsoft.com/spywareAd-Aware SE Personalhttp://www.lavasoft.com

ConsumerSearch again

A Joke and a Cartoon

How to prevent viruses: Board up the basements

Know Where to Get Help

Google WebJunction Hardware/software vendor sites Microsoft Join a user group

The Road Less Traveled

Firefox Open Office Gmail Apple Linux

Linspire Ubuntu

Work More Click Less

Email tips http://email.about.com/cs/tipsandtricks/tp/top_tips.htm

General tips http://www.psu.edu/studentcomputing/tips-preface.html http://www.csoonline.com/read/050104/briefing_tips.html

IE tips http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/enthusiast/topten.mspx

Keyboard shortcuts http://www.computerhope.com/shortcut.htm

Get Twice as Much of Everything

Buy more RAM Buy a bigger hard drive Go wireless Get a new monitor Upgrade your software Have a throw-away computer

Have a Plan C

Make regular backups Have an image of your computer Keep your disks, documentation and

licenses handy

Find Treasure inUnexpected Places

Disabled Women’s Network AARP http://www.komando.com/ http://www.pchell.com/

Be Aware Be Smart Be Honest

Ask yourself “Where am I? What do I see?” Take 2 minutes to troubleshoot your own

problem Is the caps lock on? Is it plugged in?

Being smart will prevent spyware and spam What is the last thing you did before you didn’t

do anything?

Updates Updates Updates

Critical updates to your operating system Access updates in your firewall rules Definition updates for your antivirus Definition updates for adware removal

Other things that help

Spam management MSN, Yahoo, AOL

Pop-up blockers Google advanced toolbar

Content filtering I’m not talking about patrons; I mean you. AdSubtract.com or userContent.css

http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/adblock

Questions?

Don Yarman (yarmando@oplin.org)OPLIN Library Services Manager

Jim Mann (jmann@gcpl.lib.oh.us)Technology CoordinatorGCPL

This presentation is available online at www.oplin.org/presentations/tenthings.ppt