Protecting Your Internet Identity - Part 2

This month’s article is part two of the series “Protecting Your Internet Identity”.

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Tip  3. Protecting Your Computer
When you think of protecting your computer from attack the image that springs to mind is some cyber criminal “hacking” remotely into your pc and stealing your information. For the most part this is pure fantasy and Hollywood has exploited this myth to the point that the general population are convinced a group of super hackers exist. They don’t.
There are no magic tools that can penetrate a strong defence on your computer and if your computer is hacked 99% of the time it is you or someone using your pc that has enabled this to happen. Simply put the real threat to your computer is those whom you allow to use it.  In most cases of virus infection I come across, the computer user has either disabled their protection or has actively allowed a website or individual to gain access to the computer. Here are a few simple steps to avoid this.

• Restrict access to your computer to just yourself and if you can’t do this ensure that anyone using the computer uses the guest account only.

• Never under any circumstances give your password to someone so they can use your account on your pc.

• Ensure you install a proper anti-virus on your machine and ensure that it cannot be disabled without entering a password. Please note Anti-Virus software is not foolproof and viruses can get past it under the right circumstances. Thus exercise caution on the web at all times.

• Scan your machine frequently for virus and spyware infection and if one is detected do not rely on the anti-virus to remove it. Seek Professional help immediately. One virus detected usually indicates that more are lurking on your pc.

• Actively avoid all illegal music video gaming sites.

• Use Fire foxes web browser and avoid using Internet Explorer, Google Chrome and Safari for web browsing. (donwload Firefox from this link -http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/)
• Don’t download every “whiz-bang” program you come across on the internet. Chances are you really don’t need it.

•  Have your computer checked regularly by a qualified and trusted computer technician and if you notice unexplained slowdowns or error messages seek technical help immediately.

•    Never respond to unsolicited emails and be suspicious of emails purporting to come from friends that seem odd. It is very simple for any hacker to impersonate anyone’s email.

•  Don’t allow friends or family to connect usb or external hard drives to your computer. These can contain viruses which will infect your machine.

Oliver Reidy is a computer technician and has been in the industry since 1981.You can contact him via email  at

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Protecting Your Internet Identity – Part 1

This month’s article deals with the every present threat of identity theft on the internet. Increasingly cyber criminals have turned to this method as it presents the easiest way to part you from your hard earned money. Coupled with this is the increased use of email accounts and passwords as the primary method to access online services. Identify theft can result in serious financial loss coupled with embarrassment when your friends and family are targeted as a result of your web address book becoming available to the cyber criminal.

The following are some simple, but very important, steps to reduce the risk of your email being hacked.

Tip  1. Use Strong Passwords
Any password you use should not be easily guessed by the cyber criminal. Thus you should avoid simple passwords such as your own name or indeed those of your siblings or children. Passwords should be at least eight characters in length and should contain a combination of upper and lower case letters and numbers. By default we tend to use easy to remember passwords such as “ashling”. Changing this to a stronger password by adding numbers and upper/lower case letter would result in a password such as aSh83Li19Ng. The chances of the new password being guessed are much less likely. Remembering it is not so simple. If you must record it then record it on paper! Do not put it in a file on your computer as a hacker may gain access to your pc and find it.

Tip 2. Setup Security For Cloud Email  Accounts
I have seen many cases where “cloud” email accounts have been stolen. By cloud email I am referring specifically to Microsoft hotmail, live and Google gmail accounts. If you must use one of these services, I don’t recommend them, then take the time to setup the security correctly and record this information on paper. It is critical that you maintain this information as without it is very difficult to regain access to your account should it be stolen.

I recommend you have multiple email accounts and use them as follows:
·    Use one account for high security such as banking and buying online. Never use this account for any other correspondence and use an extra strong password and change it frequently.
·    Use a second account for regular email to friends and family but do not use it for sign up notification services from retailers.
·    Use your third account as your scrap account for signing up to online offers and correspondence with internet sites.

In the March edition I will provide some additional tips on this issue,  Stay safe!

Oliver Reidy is a computer technician and has been in the industry since 1981.You can contact him via email at help.desk@reidyonline.com. The link for this article for friends and family is  http://reidyonline.blogspot.ie/   His  facebook account is :  Http://www.facebook.com/reidyonline.

Five Computer Tips For 2013

When it comes to your computer taking some simple steps will ensure that when trouble strikes on your pc you will be in a good position to recover from it. Chances are many of you will ignore them but those who take the time to implement these simple steps will be rewarded.

Tip  1. Protect Your Pc From Power Problems

Electrical problems will kill your machine faster than any virus and it is one of the most common causes of damaged machines I come across. Purchase a good surge protector and use it. I recommend Belkin. If you have a damaged laptop power supply replace it and if the connector is damaged get it repaired before it shorts out and blows the laptop.

Tip 2. Invest in a Good Backup device

Safeguard your data by purchasing a solid backup drive and regularly backing up your information. You will spend around 100 euro. Seek technical assistance to ensure you are backing up all your key information. Use the two copy rule for all important information (two copies on two separate devices) and don’t use your backup drive to store information other than your backups.

Tip 3. Invest in a Good Anti-Virus Program

There is no free lunch when it comes to security and if you rely on so called “free” products to protect you on the internet you will get burned sooner or later. Seek professional advice on which anti-virus program to purchase and ensure it is properly installed and configured. The anti-virus program installed on your computer is not there because it was the best it’s installed because it was the cheapest the manufacturer could find ! Visit my website at www.reidyonline.com to see a comparison of some of the leading anti-virus programs.

Tip 4. Restrict Access

Don’t allow others to use your computer unless you want to get virus infected.

If you must allow someone to use the machine then either create a restricted account or activate the guest feature on your operating system. Guard your password and don’t give it out as once you do you have compromised your security.

Tip 5. Avoid Overloading Your PC

Avoid installing toolbars and extensions to your browser and avoid downloading Google apps and in particular google desktop, earth etc. These applications can hog the internet and make your browsing experience slow and frustrating. Less is better when it comes to the internet.

Buying A New PC For Christmas

Probably one of the most daunting tasks is choosing to purchase a computer for you or your family. This month I will outline some basic guidelines to buying a computer that suits your needs.

Step 1. Desktop/Laptop/Tablet

Laptops: The convenience of laptops has attracted many people to purchase laptops but there are significant tradeoffs if you choose a laptop over a desktop model. Quite simply laptops are not as robust as desktops, cannot be easily upgraded, are expensive to repair, and finally are prone to more damage. While laptops can be purchased for as little as €400 be aware these cheap laptops are not bargains. For the most part they suffer from poor manufacturing quality and consequently will be prone to early failure. They are usually seriously underpowered resulting in dreadful performance.

Cost: I found not one decent laptop in the stores for under €600.

 Desktops:The desktop is currently in decline but despite this is still, in my opinion, the best bang for your euro.  Models are limited but still available.

Cost: Expect to pay over €600.

Tablets: The Tablet, and primarily the Apple Ipad, is the largest seller worldwide but not it appears in Ireland. Tablets are not a replacement for a laptop or desktop computer but are good at what they do. As a family computer they are a non-runner but for the individual user with limited requirements they do the job. The lack of connectivity on these devices means printing and backup is a big pain in the neck and it is likely if you drop, damage, or lose your tablet you can kiss your photos goodbye.

Cost: Expect to pay  €300 for non Apple and 400+ for Apple models.

Step 2. Brand

The old adage “You get what you pay for” applies when purchasing a pc. Stick with a name brand and avoid the temptation to buy the “all singing all dancing” no name brand.

Step 3. Software

All new computers now have Windows 7 or 8 installed and it is likely that if you are moving from an XP computer some or all of your software may require upgrade or replacement. Budget for some new software and if you have a student in the house you can get a special version of Microsoft office for under €200.

Step 4. Warranty

Don’t ignore the warranty. A poor warranty will mean you must pay for the repairs and this may be sooner than you think on a new computer. Get the manufacturers extended warranty and ensure it covers all aspects of repair and replacement of the computer.

Internet Safety – Part Two

This month’s article is the second in a series dealing with the topic of protecting both yourself and your computer when using the internet. To let others know about this article direct them to visit  my blog: http://reidyonline.blogspot.com/ or my facebook page facebook.com/reidyonline

Computer Security
Effectively protecting your computer on the internet requires commitments from you to avoiding the obvious traps that exist on the internet. Plainly speaking that means if the site contains illegal music, video or programs you must actively avoid these sites. There is "no free lunch" when it comes to the internet and if you download illegal content from the internet you will eventually fall victim to a virus attack. The following five tips will help in protecting your computer while on the internet.

1. Install a proven anti-virus program and ensure it has all the latest updates. The "free" anti-virus programs available cannot effectively protect your machine and are not recommended. Consult a computer technician before purchasing and installing an anti-virus program. On my website at http://www.reidyonline.com you will see comparisons of various anti-virus programs available and why I don’t recommend them.

2. Adjust Login Security Levels. By default most users have administrator rights on their computer. You don’t need this level of security under normal circumstances. Viruses take advantage of this fact and can easily infect your computer when you are logged in with administrator rights. Create an admin account on your pc, login to it and adjust down all other accounts to restricted user level. Seek technical help on this one if you are unsure.

3. Avoid downloading Junk Software Resist the temptation to download programs that have not been recommended to you by a qualified technician. The so called speedup cleanup tools that you find advertised are for the most part junk and in many cases lead to sites that will spyware infect your machine. If your machine is slow contact a qualified technician to get it corrected.

4. Think Before Your Google Virus writers will setup fake sites to trap the unsuspecting user. Once you click on these sites you are going to get infected. If you are prompted by a site that you need to install software to view it don’t!

5. Restrict Access To Your Computer. Activate the guest account on your computer and only allow guests to use this account. Do not allow others to browse the web with your login. If you do chances are you’ll regret it.

Oliver Reidy is a computer technician and has been in the industry since 1981.Locally he is a member of Mebo (Meath East Business Owners) Http://www.mebo.biz. You can view this article online at http://reidyonline.blogspot.com/ or via his facebook page at facebook.com/reidyonline

You can contact him via email at 
 

Internet Safety – Part One

Internet Safety – Part One

 This month’s article is the first in a series dealing with the topic of protecting both yourself and your computer when using the internet. It’s timely as I’ve seen an increase in the incidence of scams and hacking landing on my desk. In future articles I will cover computer, internet browsing, and social networking security.

Email Security

Your email address is the gateway to your identity and once a scammer or hacker has gained access to it he/she can used it in a variety of nefarious ways to scam your address book and also to scam you. Observe these 6 rules to avoid compromising your email:

1. Access your email account from your own computer or phone only. There are a myriad of hacker programs out there that can record anything you do on a computer. These programs are hidden so when you use someone else’s computer or a public computer you have no way of knowing if one of these programs is installed.

2. Change your password often and use a cryptic password. Avoid using the obvious ones like your children’s names or your pet’s names and include upper and lower case characters and numbers in the password. Example: If your current password was beachhouse change it by adding numbers and uppercase characters to something like bEaCH2o9UsE

3. Immediately delete unsolicited emails that appear in your account and do not open or forward scam emails as, while you may not be gullible enough to open or reply to the email others may. The amount of people who have been stung by these scam emails is staggering and I know of one case where over €30,000 was handed over to scammers. Be warned if you engage these people they will scam you and you have little or no chance of getting your money back.

4. Never give out your email password. Your email provider will never need to know your password as they can view or alter it at any time. If you do need to give your password to a trusted computer technician immediately change it as soon as he/she is finished working with your email.

5. Use your common sense when visiting websites that ask for your email address. If you are suspicious decline and do not give the site your email address.

6. Never allow other individuals to use your email address regardless of the excuse. Anyone can get an email address so there is never a reason for someone to use yours.

Oliver Reidy is a computer technician and has been in the industry since 1981.Locally he is a member of Mebo (Meath East Business Owners) Http://www.mebo.biz. You can contact him via email at

 

Ipads Tablets And Laptops

This month’s article deals with the topic of portable computers and which is best suited for your computing needs. I will not discuss desktop computers save to say that in my opinion a professional desktop computer will yield you the best value overall in a personal computer.

Apple Ipad
The Apple ipad does what it says on the box and does it better than any other tablet based machine I have seen. It’s sleek, fast, and has excellent performance in a small well designed product BUT it is not a full replacement for a laptop/desktop computer.
The lack of full browser support means many websites are unusable when viewed on an ipad. On top of this the lack of usb ports means you can not easily backup the device nor can you print from it with ease. To be fair to apple they didn’t design it as a replacement for a laptop but inevitably people use it like it is one. If all you do on a computer is Facebook and some email then by all means buy one but don’t gripe if it doesn’t do all that you expect of a personal computer.

Tablet Computers
The success of the Ipad has spawned a plethora of clones in the form of tablet computers. Most, until recently, had much smaller screens and have limited functionality. The cost is significantly cheaper than an ipad but I’ve never seen one I liked. Pc manufacturers are in the process of launching Ipad killers in the form of new tablet computers which will come with Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system. These new hybrid machines will feature touch screen features similar to the ipad combined with traditional laptop features including a full working keyboard and mouse when you need it. To see a preview of windows 8 in action click on or visit the following link - http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/release-preview
The big caveat for these new hybrids will be the cost of a replacement screens which will be very expensive. 50% of laptops I see for repair have broken screens.

Laptop Computers
The cost of laptops has continued to drop in price but so also has the quality and durability. It’s not uncommon for me to see laptops of less than 2 years old in for repair with serious hardware failures. The lower end cheaper laptops simply do not last and if you get four years out of one you’ll be lucky. If you do decide to invest in one avoid the cheap models.


Oliver Reidy is a computer technician and has been in the industry since 1981.Locally he is a member of Mebo (Meath East Business Owners) Http://www.mebo.biz. You can contact him via email at help.desk@reidyonline.com