Holiday's - Are you protected?

There's something that always amazes me, when people go on holiday what do they do with their computer's, well it's easy with laptops these days, you just carry it with you but is it safe with you. Are you using it on the travels, is it protected in every way possible for example insured against theft, damage if using it outside in the weather. Best too check before leaving on your holiday.

 Another protection is it all up to date with the latest Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware software and definitions, if not then best you do, if you normally on a network (i.e. work laptop) check with your IT Admins to see what you can do to safely guard your laptop against cyber theft while browse the net via a hotels free wifi connection, you can ask the place you staying for your holiday's if their network is protected sufficiently against cyber crime. The worst thing that could happen is you innocently connect with your work or home laptop to a wireless connection and someone close by manages to hack into your computer and either plants a virus, spyware, rogueware or worst still steals all your unprotected data.

Be sure to check out with the local's which is the best IT support in the area you staying if you happen to have issues with your computer while you on holiday. Nothing is worse than having your laptop crash while all your saved holiday photos and memories can never be recovered. It is also not nice to spend your holiday savings on dodgy IT repairs that in the end cost more to fix than your original holiday cost.

Finally have a safe and pleasant holiday season. All the best for 2015

The Do’s and Don’ts of the Internet!

 

The simple ways of using the internet for it’s main purpose is fun but can also be fairly hazardous. Now don’t get me wrong and discourage your staff from using the Internet as a tool to further find things of interest.

Best practice if you unsure ask! Your IT Support will be more than willing to help you out if you think you have been infected or something odd is happening!

But here are some really important DO’s and DON’TS of Browsing not only Internet but also E-mails too!

Right first the DON’TS

Those who click on links and open attachments in emails run higher risk of encountering viruses.

Those who download all the neat stuff they encounter while browsing the Internet will install adware (pop-ups that NO popup blocker can stop), malicious software and potentially viruses.

Most toolbars are spyware These come in the form of MySearch, googlebar,  etc, they are commonly called BHO or Browser Help Organizers, but more often than not they are spyware promoters.

Don't click on a link or attachment in an email unless you were expecting the link or attachment. DO NOT click on a link or attachment just because you recognize (or think you recognize) the service or person the email is from. That is a lure for the nastiest of viruses... they only need you too "click" to start messing day up

Don't click on the "Congratulations! You are the Millionth Visitor! Click Here to receive you FREE IPAD!" The end result will very disappointing and can mess your PC up.

Stay away from FREE; screen savers, simile central (free smiles), wall papers, free mouse coursers, coupon printers, etc. Most of these will install Trojan Viruses or Malware (sometimes just poorly written software) that can cripple your computer or put a strangle hold on it.

DON’T go to porn sites, if you think you won’t be caught or found out trust me it is easy to find where you have been, there is software to find that out. Oh and before you think mmm! I’ll delete, that’s not good either, as the software checks even the hidden tracks your browsing leaves behind.

DON'T...respond to any e-mail asking you for personal information, such as social security number, bank account numbers or PIN number. Banks, credit card companies and other legitimate businesses will not ask you for personal information in an e-mail.

Finally the DO’S

Update and scan with your spyware removers and anti-virus programs relative to your computer usage. Scan at least once or twice every 2 weeks for light Internet use and perhaps once to 3 times a week for heavier Internet use.

DO have fun on the internet, that is what it was designed to do, for information and leisure, and dare I say games! But only during free time (lunch time only people)

If something odd occurs on your PC/Laptop which you haven’t seen before, unplug from network and call your IT support immediately it might be minor or major but let them decide! They are after all the experts in the field.

Weather!

In recent times weather has played a roll in making life for the computer quite dangerous, how may you ask! Well in terms of the following:

Living near the Coast: Unless you replace your computer on a regular basis you may notice that even your PC casing is subject to rust, there is little you can do to stop the rust, except you can go the Acrylic route but unless done properly it can become expensive. Of course it's not just your casing, the moisture in the air also plays havoc with the dryness of the air mixing with dust forming a sticky form that is circulating around your machine, it can cause damage to components within. A cover is the best solution, sheet or plastic to protect the valuable equipment.

Those living inland are not clear of dangers either, you have the opposite to the coast, the dry dust clogs up fans and sits on the motherboard, too much of this dust and your machine never mind how cool you think it's running will eventually stop working as it will over heat and possibly blow components. Laptops are at the worst for fans clogging up from dust or moisture, once a laptop fan stops, it will damage more than a PC. Thus causing a major expense possible even complete replacement.

Natural disasters: Lightning, floods are two of the most damaging forms for computers! If you in areas where you have frequent storms best you find a safe place to house your computer out of reach of possible flooding. Make sure that no water can get anywhere near the machine. In terms of Lightning, if there is a storm brewing anywhere near by, unplug your machine from the network if it's on one, disconnect any cables leading into the machine especially power, network, telephone/modem cables. These despite what retailers of surge protectors say, I have a belief that if it's unplugged then it's safe, and to be right and safe or wrong and have an expensive bill on your hands to replace the costly equipment, well I know what I would choose. You could also buy a UPS - Uninterrupted Power Supply) which would help in smoothing the power to your PC/laptop through a surge protector but that would only be okay if it is protected from the Natural causes otherwise it would fall into the same conditions as mentioned above. Still the best policy is to unplug everything (even inputs to a router, modem) as these too are expensive replace if damaged.

Clutter

Sitting here at my "desk" running a much needed Defrag on my computer, and one thing came into my mind! How many of those people that read this blog today with think to do a defrag on their computer! Your hard drive/s on your PC or Laptop has the same clutter as a room in your home, ok you might be thinking what is this guy talking about! Right picture this, your room (stuff room) at home, you walk into it everyday and just dump boxes or clothes or things on the floor, then a couple of days later you add more stuff but then you think I was looking for my bowling ball, so you toss everything all over the room to find that ball, eventually you find it, but the room now looks like a hurricane has blown through it, you think I'll leave it that way till next week to clean it up, but you never get round to cleaning it cause you keep adding to the mess! Till one day when it's too late and you cannot open the door as it's jammed! Well a PC/Laptop hard drive is the same, unless you clean it up, defrag it every once in a while eventually it's going too start to give errors and one day you will not be able to use you computer at all! Then your poor IT Support will get the call to sort it out. I always say "A healthy Hard Drive is a healthy PC/Laptop" it's most of the time a lot faster too and it has to work less to find the files you need to run a program. Whether you using XP,Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 9 or Windows 10 (now), as far as I know Microsoft has always had the Defrag option in it's "Program - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Defragmenter. There are other third party Defrag programs that do just or not better job of keeping your Hard Drive running uncluttered, the one I use often is Puran Defrag (Recommended)

Link: Puran Defragging Tool

Welcome Page

Welcome all to my blog! My-IT-i Guru 

      I will endeavor to keep you up to date as much as I can, try and help where I can to! This is my first attempt at Blogging so please bear with me while I learn and find my way around! This is very much work in progress........

Thanks

Bill