Make sure when browsing secure websites on the Internet that your browser has Https: in the address bar. This makes your connection secure and you should not enter any personal information unless its a secure site. Banking sites are an example of a secure site.
Make sure when using your PC and you get virus popups that they are coming from YOUR anti-virus and not some Internet popup. These popups are misleading and could lead to a virus infection.
Make sure your anti-virus stays current and updated. Don’t let your anti-virus expire because you will not be protected against new threats.
You can easily add a password to your user account to keep unwanted people out of your computer.
To add a password in Windows XP or Windows Vista do the following:
Click on start then control panel, make sure you are in classic view (upper left corner), then click on user accounts and click on add/change your password.
Many computers are damaged from power surges. Surges can come thru your power line as well as thru your phone line. A surge protector is an inexpensive way to protect your computer and other equipment from being damaged from surges. If you have a phone line connected to your pc then it is highly recommended to have a surge protector with phone line protection as well.
Static electricity can damage your computer. A couple easy ways to prevent this from happening is to get your pc up off the carpet (if it isnt already). You could set it on your desk or on a stand or even just put some cardboard or something underneath it. Also remember to touch sometime metal to discharge any static build-up you may have before touching your computer tower. Running a humidifier in your home can also help you to not have so much static in your body.
Keep your pc safe from liquid spills. It is not a good idea to drink a beverage near your laptop or desktop computer as liquid spills can damage your computer.
Keep your computer equipment safe and running during power flickers or outages with a battery backup. A battery backup (or UPS) is not to be confused with our previous post about surge protectors. These are similar items in the fact that they protect your equipment from surges. A battery backup not only protects your equipment from surges but also drops in the power (or brown outs). A drop in power can be just as harmful to electronics as a power surge. A battery backup keeps the power flowing the same at all times. It will also keep your computer running for a few minutes to 30 minutes so you can get your open files saved and safely shut down your computer. The time your battery backup runs after loosing power all depends on the size of the battery backup and how much power your computer requires.