Internet security basics, part two

Continuing from last week’s article, I’ve noticed that without proper education, users and their computers are just accidents waiting to happen.

If a user cannot correctly answer the following questions, then I guarantee you that their computer will eventually become a mess and a danger to others.

1. What is Microsoft Windows?

2. What is Windows Explorer? Why is it important?

3. What is a file? What is a folder?

4. How do you make a new folder? How do you rename a file?

5. What browser do you use (you’d be surprised how many people answer, “Duh, Windows?”)

6. What is a browser? What does “WWW” stand for?

7. What is a network? What is the Internet?

8. How can you tell when your computer is “on the Internet?”

9. What is a toolbar? What are help files? What are preferences, options and settings?

10. What is a virus? What is spyware? Why are these things bad?

Many Internet nasties find their way into computers because of bad user behavior. I hear this line all of the time: “Well, something popped up and I didn’t know what it meant, so, I clicked on it and now nothing works right.”

The general rule of Internet safety is, “be suspicious of everything.” If you don’t know what something is, don’t click. With that in mind, here’s a list of “don’ts” that covers some things that users do which bring viruses, trojans, spyware and rootkits into their machines.

• Do not use Internet Explorer for anything other than Windows Update. Use Mozilla Firefox or Opera for your general Web site browsing.

• Never open e-mail attachments, unless you are 1,000 percent confident in their content. I tell people who want to send me attachments that they need to describe in the body of the e-mail what the attachment is and give me the file name. Otherwise, it goes straight into the trash.

• Never click on anything that says you have won a “prize.”

• Do not download or install weather “bugs.”

• Do not download wallpapers, screensavers or games unless you are 1,000 percent sure of their origin and safety.

• Do not download or install any file “sharing” or “transfer” program. There are many viruses and rootkits on the Internet masquerading as songs and videos. Use programs like Limewire at your own risk.

• Do not use instant messaging programs unless you know that they are virus protected and properly configured to deny anonymous connections. The default settings will not do.

• Do not download or install any “Web search helpers” or “toolbars,” such as CoolWebSearch. If you want to search the Internet, use Scroogle, Blackbox or Metacrawler.

• Do not download or install any “clock updaters,” or date/schedule “managers” unless you are absolutely sure of their origin and safety.

• Do not download or install programs from anywhere other than the original program Web site. For example, there are many virus-laden versions of AOL Instant Messenger posted to malicious Web sites.

• Do not download or install any “PC Health” or “PC Repair” programs.

• Do not download or install any “Web accelerators” or “download managers” unless you are absolutely sure of their origin and safety.

• Do not download or install anything to “speed up” your Internet connection.

• Do not let any Web site “scan and repair” your computer unless you are absolutely sure that it is safe. When in doubt, don’t.

• No gambling or porno sites. They load you up with spyware. No kidding.

Next week: Internet security and software.

Dave Moore has been repairing computers in Norman since 1984, when he borrowed $1,200 to buy a Commodore 64 system. He can be reached at 919-9901 or www.davemoorecomputers.com.