Ten Things You Should Do to
Your Computer Today
Don Yarman & Jim Mann
OLC IT Division
Small Libraries Conference
May 2006
The First Four Things
1.
2.
3.
4.
Automatic Updates
Firewall
Antivirus
Adware/Spyware Removal
That’s the bottom line; you may go to another session.
If you want to know more or want to argue, please stay.
Our Objectives
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Doing anything is better than doing nothing.
Any recommendations may not be the absolute
“best” thing you can do -- that’s a moving target
anyway.
We’ll present a baseline of what you must do,
some recommendations of how to do it, and
we’ll discuss what you can do above and
beyond the minimum.
Credit where it’s due
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OPLINTECH list, 30 June 2004
“How to keep your PC spyware and
malware free for nothing!”
Jim Kenzig, Cuyahoga County PL
http://www.thinworkplace.com/article_read.asp?id=62
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WindowsSecrets.com
“Security Baseline”
What I’m talking about
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Personal computers (at home or library)
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Windows operating system (esp. XP)
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Any Internet connection (esp. broadband)
1. Enable Automatic Updates
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Latest service packs and hot fixes
To enable:
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Go to your Control Panel
Automatic Updates or Security Center
Second or Third radio button
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Second option? You have to install
Third button not good choice if you don’t have
broadband at home
Older PC without Automatic Updates
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Update manually through Internet Explorer
http://update.microsoft.com
Scan for and install all critical updates
Return repeatedly to get all updates
New Microsoft Update includes Office
(Do you know where your Office disks are?)
2. Install a good firewall
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If you have Windows XP, enable Windows
Internet Connection Firewall.
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[Automatically enabled in Service Pack 2]
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Directions on Microsoft site
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/learnmore/icf.mspx
Not Windows XP?
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Obtain good software or purchase router with a
hardware firewall
Norton/McAfee firewall and antivirus
WindowsSecrets.com recommends Linksys hardware
firewalls and ZoneAlarm Security Suite 6
http://www.zonelabs.com
With software firewalls, the first time that you run any
program that tries to access the Internet, a pop-up will
ask if you want to allow it. (You will be amazed).
3. Maintain Antivirus
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No excuses.
Review leaders: ConsumerSearch.com says
“Smart Computing, PC Magazine, CNet.com”
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Best: McAfee Virus Scan 2006 (with complaints)
Free: Avast! 4 Home edition
http://www.avast.com
Grisoft AVG Free edition
http://www.free.grisoft.com
Spend the money. Update definitions daily.
Opinions are like…um….
4. Remove Adware
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Best: SpyWare Sweeper
http://www.webroot.com/
Runner Up: Spyware Doctor
http://www.pctools.com/spyware-doctor/
Free: Microsoft Windows Defender [beta]
http://www.microsoft.com/spyware
Ad-Aware SE Personal
http://www.lavasoft.com
ConsumerSearch again
A Joke and a Cartoon
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How to prevent viruses:
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Board up the basements
Know Where to Get Help
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Google
WebJunction
Hardware/software vendor sites
Microsoft
Join a user group
The Road Less Traveled
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Firefox
Open Office
Gmail
Apple
Linux
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Linspire
Ubuntu
Work More Click Less
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Email tips
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General tips
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http://www.psu.edu/studentcomputing/tips-preface.html
http://www.csoonline.com/read/050104/briefing_tips.html
IE tips
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http://email.about.com/cs/tipsandtricks/tp/top_tips.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/enthusiast/topten.mspx
Keyboard shortcuts
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http://www.computerhope.com/shortcut.htm
Get Twice as Much
of Everything
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Buy more RAM
Buy a bigger hard drive
Go wireless
Get a new monitor
Upgrade your software
Have a throw-away computer
Have a Plan C
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Make regular backups
Have an image of your computer
Keep your disks, documentation and
licenses handy
Find Treasure in
Unexpected Places
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Disabled Women’s Network
AARP
http://www.komando.com/
http://www.pchell.com/
Be Aware Be Smart Be Honest
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Ask yourself “Where am I? What do I see?”
Take 2 minutes to troubleshoot your own
problem
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Is the caps lock on?
Is it plugged in?
Being smart will prevent spyware and spam
What is the last thing you did before you didn’t
do anything?
Updates Updates Updates
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Critical updates to your operating system
Access updates in your firewall rules
Definition updates for your antivirus
Definition updates for adware removal
Other things that help
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Spam management
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Pop-up blockers
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MSN, Yahoo, AOL
Google advanced toolbar
Content filtering
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I’m not talking about patrons; I mean you.
AdSubtract.com or userContent.css
http://www.mozilla.org/support/firefox/adblock
Questions?
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Don Yarman (yarmando@oplin.org)
OPLIN Library Services Manager
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Jim Mann (jmann@gcpl.lib.oh.us)
Technology Coordinator
GCPL
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This presentation is available online at
www.oplin.org/presentations/tenthings.ppt