Tech Directions - December 2007 - (Page 13)

mastering computers 2 Reid Goldsborough reidgold@netaxs.com Keeping Your Computer Going Among the worst things that can happen to a computer is for it to stop working. Computers have a knack for developing problems when you’re in the middle of an important project. There are resources out there you can call on when you can’t fix things yourself. Before detailing some of those resources, here’s a quick list of how to prevent problems in the first place: ● Use an anti-virus program, firewall program, anti-spyware program, and anti-spam program—and keep them current. You can go the route of a suite of bundled programs, such as Symantec’s Norton 360, which makes using the programs and getting updates easier, or you can use programs from different companies, which can may be a lessexpensive approach. As a result of the increasing importance of being protected this way, more and more Internet service providers offer free security tools with your subscription to them. You typically have to enable the tools, however, and not everybody does this. ● Update Windows or whatever operating system you’re using regularly. The same goes for whatever office suite or other programs you’re using, including your word processor, Web browser, and spreadsheet program. The best approach is to enable programs to download and install updates automatically, which is particularly convenient if you have a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection. ● At home, if you can swing it, get your kids their own PC for instant messaging, surfing the Web, and playing games, and keep your home computer to yourself. If, in exploring their creativity, your kids blow up their PC, you won’t be prevented from getting necessary work done. Make sure you instruct students and your own kids regarding safe computing practices. At home, you can use parental control software, often part of Internet security programs, to prevent children from visiting porn, gambling, and other of the Internet’s seedier Web sites and discussion areas. ● Among the most important safe computing practices are refusing to open e-mail attachments from people you don’t know and checking with people you do know before opening attachments to make sure the e-mail actually came from them. Also, don’t click on links in any e-mail message or pop-up window asking you to verify a credit card, bank, eBay, PayPal, or similar account. Similarly, don’t provide personal information to anyone unless you’re sure you’re at a valid Web site or are communicating with someone you know and trust. Try to stay away from Web sites you don’t trust. Internet security suites and free programs such as Spyware Blaster (www.javacool software.com/spywareblaster.html) can help. If searching with Google, you can enable SafeSearch by going to its Advance Search page, at www.google.com/advanced_search, or simply by clicking on Advance Search. ● Turn your PC off at night to free up system resources, eliminate potential conflicts, and conserve energy. pendently through the Web, e-mail, or Usenet. Type any error message you receive on screen into Google, within quotation marks. If you experience other types of glitches, type the key words into Google along with the product’s brand name or the type of product. Fixing things yourself is the least expensive way to go, but it can sometimes be time consuming. If you’re not able to fix things in a timely way, call in the experts. Options include taking your computer to a local computer repair shop, using a remote tech support service such as PlumChoice Computer Help (www.plumchoice. com) that attempts to fix things over the Internet, or bring in a technician from a service such as Rescuecom (www.rescuecom. com). Reid Goldsborough is a syndicated columnist and author of the book Straight Talk About the Information Superhighway. Student Inventors Wanted! Don’t miss this year’s techdirections Inventors Challenge! Get your students involved in brainstorming useful ideas for Ping-Pong balls. For details, visit www. techdirections.com/contest.html, or see page 20 in the August issue of Tech Directions. Google for Help If you do experience a problem, often you can solve it yourself by simply doing a Google search. Google and other Web search sites have gotten so good that you typically don’t have to seek out frequently asked questions archives (FAQs) or tech support forums at company Web sites or offered inde- Deadline: February 1, 2008 www.techdirections.com MASTERING COMPUTERS 13 http://www.plumchoice.com http://www.plumchoice.com http://www.rescuecom.com http://www.rescuecom.com http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html http://www.google.com/advanced_search http://www.techdirections.com/contest.html http://www.techdirections.com/contest.html http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/prakken/techdirections0807/index.php?startpage=22 http://www.techdirections.com

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Tech Directions - December 2007 Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The News Report Technology Today Technology's Past Mastering Computers Is This Op-Amp Any Good? Lab-Built Checker Removes All Doubt Here Comes the Sun! Residential Solar Systems Add Up to Savings Pinhole Cameras—For Science, Art, and Fun! Poster Project Maps Out Design Process Gifts for Geeks E-gallery More than Fun

Tech Directions - December 2007

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