TheWorldJournal.com

Keeping Your PC Out of Trouble
By Artashes Toumanov, TheWorldJournal.com

Today computer users are mostly concerned about two things when working online: security and virus-protection. Here are some useful tips on how to keep your PC out of trouble without spending money.

Let's start with virus protection. The most popular "I Love You" and "Anna Kournikova" bugs are well known all around the world - those bugs have created mass-trouble for e-businesses and ordinary users. Tech-problems with our PCs are in 90% caused by viruses sent to our e-mail accounts. 35% of all Internet users delete 5 to 10 "strange" messages even without opening every day. Of course there is a name for it - spam. But it is important to notice, that some of those messages contain invisible bugs that are getting in our systems. In spite of that even some popular anti-virus programs cannot locate them so quickly, many people still continue to open messages, totally forgetting about their PC's health. One of the major problems is that there are a lot of inexperienced and not well computer-educated users.

Until it is not possible to send spam messages or get a virus into any system - protecting your PC will remain to be the number one concern for all computer users around the globe. Instead of waiting, here are some tips that could help you protect your system today. These simple rules make a big difference for every Internet user out there.

- The most naive advice - find a free e-mail service with an anti-virus option in it. Yes, some services provide a free option - an automatic virus scanning of every message and every file received and sent. Hotmail is one of them. Though this free e-mail service is so popular among PC users, it is a number-one system not only for spammers, but also for people who want to create an online world catastrophe.

- If you can make a difference between personal messages from an advertising letter - you got better chances to survive. Delete all the e-mails that are strange to you (better without opening them). Most bugs start working when you actually open a letter, so be careful.

- Do not open or delete personalized e-mails, such as "Mike, remember me?" or "Kate, I miss you so much!!" if you do not recognize the sender's e-mail address. Mostly these types of messages are the usual personalized advertising.

- Do not open or delete immediately e-mails from celebrities (remember "Anna Kournikova" bug). Keep in mind that they will never write you just like that, so don't be so happy when you see a love-letter from Salma Hayek or Mr. DiCaprio. Although it is a very attractive message, which everyone tends to open very quickly, it is also a great way to get a virus into your PC.

- Now, download ZoneAlarm software from the Internet. It will not protect you against viruses, but it sire will protect your computer against unwanted intruders. It will allow you to work safely online than never before and you'll be able to customize ZoneAlarm for every single program that requires an Internet access. That way you can protect your system from other online users tending to get into your computer through popular devices. Oh, and ZoneAlarm is free for personal use.

So, go ahead, make these little changes and start taking care of your electronic buddy. Good luck.

© July 10, 2001