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The following are some Do-It-Yourself tips for troubleshooting, repairing and maintaining your computer. Enjoy browsing through our Time Saver tips, that will help you increase your productivity in the workplace. Find out simple ways to increase your security without decreasing your performance. Read through our Troubleshoot it tips for repairing problems in Windows. |
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Even though Windows XP and 2000 have
been on the market for a long time hackers and crackers
still manage to find security holes in the operating systems.
In general, they are holes that can be exploited by a virus.
Unfortunately, Microsoft and the virus definition writers
(antivirus companies like Symantec, Mcafee etc.) will always
be one step behind the attackers. So it’s a good idea to
follow standard practice for protection against internet attacks. |
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1. Make sure your administrator account and guest account have passwords. For daily use, log on as a regular user without administrative privileges. In this way, if malware gets through, it won't have full access to the computer. |
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2. Make sure you have antivirus software installed and ensure that is it updating regularly. At Witzend Computing we recommend Norton Antivirus 2006 (not Norton Internet Security) or Symantec Antivirus Corporate 10.0 for businesses. Read Business Case Scenario #2 |
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3. Turn on Windows Firewall and configure the appropriate exceptions. |
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4. Use a router (which is also a firewall) and be sure it has a password (See Below). For wireless networks add WEP or WAP encryption. |
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5. Turn on Windows automatic updates and make sure they update at a time when your computer is on. Some updates may require a reboot. Double-click the yellow icon on the bottom right by the clock to see if updates are ready to install. |
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6. Uninstall any unwanted programs, especially programs that may be opening backdoors, like hotbars in your web browser. |
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Although I highly recommend following all of
the above security measures, you need to
be aware that they may cause some inconveniences
roblems. So I’ll just run down the list.
Many programs do not work well
with Windows permissions. This is where us techs
earn our keep. You may have to give the user you work on administrative control in order for the software to work correctly. After you Install the software, change your logon permissions back to basic user
permissions. However, depending on the software,
you still may run into more complications. Give us a call, we can help out.
When you install software, if the software needs
to access the internet you may get a Windows
popup message asking you to block or unblock access.
Unblock means you are opening an exception
in Windows firewall for that program.
In the control panel, click on Windows
firewall then click on the Exceptions tab. This is where
you can block or unblock software access
to the internet. Be aware of what’s going
on in there. It’s easy to accidentally
allow something you don’t want in and
block something you need access to.
Adding WEP or WAP encryption to a low-end router
(Airlink, Netgear, D-link, Linksys, Belkin, US Robotics)
will more likely than not slow down your internet. Your network adapter on your computer
may also give up trying to connect to your wireless
router if the WEP or WAP password is wrong and may
decide to connect to your neighbors instead. Give
us a call, we can set it up securely and work out
the bugs. However, we may have to recommend a more
expensive router to set you up securely and reliably.
Uninstalling hotbars sometimes is next to impossible.
If it doesn’t uninstall easily, call in the tech, we
usually end up in the registry (the guts of Windows)
in order to get rid of it. If a virus is linked
to a program, uninstalling that program could trigger
the virus. Be sure to run your virus updates and a
full virus scan before uninstalling suspicious programs.
It’s also a good idea to ensure that the Guest account is disabled.
It’s disabled in 2000 and XP by default, however
some programs may turn it on when they are installed.
At Witzend Computing, we specialize in securing computers and networks.
If your computer is secured properly it will last a long
time with very little maintenance. Give us a call if you have questions or would like a free consultation.
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