I'm not that kind of computer person!
You know, I get a lot of calls from friends and neighbors who know that I'm a "computer
person".
I get "I think I've got a virus" or "My wireless has stopped working". I
don't mean to be unhelpful, but it's not really what I do. Think of it like calling
a stonemason or carpenter because you're got a termite problem.
But that said, there is some advice I can give, and it's all stuff I do myself and
I'd recommend to my grandmother.
Browser
First off, don't use IE if you can help it. There are certain things that you're going to need it for (like Windows Update), but in general - don't use it. Use Firefox instead. Here's why:
- Firefox is quicker. Far quicker.
- Hackers and spammers target IE. If you wanted to install spyware and stuff, you'd go
for the browser that most people have (and comes welded onto the operating system that
most people use)
- Firefox is open source, and everyone likes free stuff.
AntiVirus/Spam/etc.
Get rid of Norton, McAfee and all that other junk that comes pre-loaded. It's slow, it clogs up your machine and it's pricey. I used to be a big fan of Symantec products, but the latest Internet Security Suite was the straw that broke this camel's back. ZoneAlarm is the man for the job. It's cheap ($19.95 a year) and it works.
Spring cleaning. (And Summer, Winter and Autumn too)
Doesn't matter how careful you are or what you're doing ... you're going to need to clean up a bit every now and then. Don't get scared: there are some great products out there which can help you out.
Personally, I wouldn't bother with the free stuff - you get what you pay for in this life - that applies to software too. Spend the $20 or so, and get a product from a company who does this stuff for a living, rather than some hack in a bedroom somewhere who may actually be installing spyware on your computer along with their "free cleanup tool".
Don't trust anybody
If it sounds too good to be true, it is. Sorry to be the one to tell you: you didn't win a free camera. Or a free cruise. Or a $500 gift card to Walmart.
These are scams to suck you in and probably to take you off somewhere on the web to infect you with viruses, spyware and other nasties. Opening these emails or links is the equivalent of having some guy you don't know take you down a dark alley in the middle of the night.