1) Never operate a computer on high-speed Internet without a firewall
2) Never let your anti-virus subscription expire
3) Never click on a pop up ad. Click the X instead in the upper right corner.
4) Don't install free software without checking with a PC technician. Most contain SPYWARE.
5) Do - Switch to High-speed DSL if it is available in your area as it is less than 15 per month which is less than dial up
6) Don't use free file or music sharing programs such as Kaaza or Limewire. They bring in a lot of SPYWARE.
7) Do - backup your data regularly.
8) Do know your email username and password. Call your email provider if you don't know what it is.
9) Do save the download file when buying software (or upgrades) through the Internet. My Documents is a great place to keep it and your other data.
10) Do run regular PC maintenence such as junk file clean up (temperary internet and windows temp files) and disk file defragmentation.
11) Do change your default workgroup and administrator password. The default is blank and hackers can guess your workgroup name.
12) Use a password for your windows login account if you have anything you don't want others to see.
13) Do setup an encryption key on your wireless network.
14) Do turn on automatic windows update if you have high-speed Internet. This will keep your PC more secure.
15) Do purchase and install an automatic SPYWARE scanner with active/resident protection. Go to our recommended products page for products we endorse.
16) Do purchase an Internet Content filter and keep the override password in a safe place or an accountability partner. Call use for recommendations.
17) Do setup a secondary "junk" email address and use that one when signing up for any websites or other newsletters. Only give your primary email address to "safe" people who wont spam you.
18) Do upgrade your computers RAM every 2-3 years. This will keep it running efficient.
19) Do blow the dust out of the inside of your computer every 6-12 months. This keeps it running cooler.
20) Do set your browser's security setting to at least medium. This will give you some protection against SPYWARE.
21) Do keep all your data in My Documents or a subfolder of. That makes it easy to find it if you need to reinstall Windows.
22) Do find out what speed of Internet you are paying for and test it at tds.net. If there is a descrepancy, call your Internet provider as they may be charging you for more bandwidth than you are getting.
23) Don't use an email address that ends with the domain name of your Internet provider or you will always be held "captive". Use a 3rd party email address that isn't tied into your ISP so you can change to a different one if you need to. Many people are stuck with AOL because they don't want to change their email address.
24) Don't sign up for AOL and simply throw the disks away. The little bit of training to use other Internet providers will be worth the effort.
25) Do run a system restore checkpoint before making any configuration changes to your machine.
26) Do use the system restore feature should you have problems, errors, etc.
27) Do use Windows "Safe mode with networking" startup option to clean spyware from your computer
28) Consider buying a USB thumb drive to backup data files/pictures to. They are very cheap today.. you can't afford NOT to have one.
29) Stay away from buying computers with non-standard/proprietary parts. You will have to pay their prices should a part fail.
30) Always be fully aware of the return policy when buying any computer parts or computers online. Buy locally if you think you are going to return something. Otherwise, the restocking and other "gotcha fee" could amount to a lot of money.
31) Upgrade Windows 98 or ME asap or buy a new computer. You've been punished enough!
32) Do reboot at least once a week if you leave your computer on. This helps it run much better and efficiently.
33) Do turn on file and printer sharing if you have 2 computers that are connected and want to share the files or a printer.
34) Do learn basic troubleshooting strategies
35) Do keep all your original CD's and disks that came with your computer, especially the Windows and/or System restore CD(s) (VERY IMPORTANT)
36) Don't open emails with attachments from people you don't know
37) Never open exe, bat, or dll attachments in email even if they are from people you know
38) Do empty your deleted items (if you use Outlook) and your Recycle bin regularly
39) If you know a powerful electrical storm is coming, shut off and unplug your computer (or the surge protector) including your modem if you use dial up.
40) Don't let all the hype of Windows Vista get to you. Yes, it has a lot of cool things, but most people will have to buy a new computer because of the resources it requires.
41) Do tell your friends and family about Duane @ Valley Web Solutions. He can help with nearly any type of computer problem or networking setup. He can even create a specialized learning module just for your needs. (Sorry, I couldn't resist that one!)
