Kim Komando was one of the first online gurus. While she's a little too theoretical and not enough 'in the trenches' for my tastes, she's still much smarter than the average online "computer expert", like all those bozos who declared Windows Vista to be "bloated". For those of us who actually are down here in the trenches, we know that by simply turning off a few pesky background programs magically transformed the "bloated" Vista into a smooth, quick, quite stable operating system.
Kim recently came out with an article titled 5 Bad Tech Habits -- And How To Break Them, so I thought I'd skim through the piece and toss in a few tidbits. She's right on all of them, but some need a bit of elaboration or clarification. I suggest you read the article first.
From the top:
1. Forgetting to clean
So, clean your tech gear as often as you'd clean any other germ or bacteria magnet. Keep some tech-friendly antiseptic wipes near your computer and phone charger.
She's 100% correct about using some kind of handy-wipe for anything with buttons on it, like a phone or keyboard. You get the the littlest bit of something like 409 under the buttons or keys and it'll turn into a thick sludge over time. I spray 409 onto a paper towel for the chore, but you have to be careful not to use too much.
As for maintaining a clean keyboard, I adhere to a rule I've been using almost from the beginning. If I get up and actually do anything, like step outside and touch something or lift up a box or whatever, I give my hands a quick rinse before returning to the computer. I'm not trying to be antiseptic; just knock off whatever's on the surface.
We'll dive below the fold for the rest.
2. Having multiple users per account
You're giving everyone access to your favorite websites and apps. Browsers can store usernames, passwords and even financial information.
This means different people using the same computer, and this is good advice from a number of angles. Just for starters, it means they can have their own Desktop icons and background pic and all the rest, with the additional benefit being that they can't actually do anything too destructive to the system because they won't have 'Admin' privileges like you do.
As for security, she's correct in that many web sites will remember your password, so once you delve into the browser's history, there's the page and possibly the password.
As far as malware goes, though, it should be noted that a virus is a virus, no matter who accidentally/foolishly downloaded it, and will affect the machine no matter who's using it because it's probably stuffed itself into a system folder, often replacing a legitimate system file. So, it isn't like you can just sign up a new user and forget about them. They'll still need to be informed of the basics, like never clicking on a small pop-out box on a web site (a 'virus warning' and a 'Flash/Java update required' are the two most common these days) unless you're 100% sure of the company.
3. Not taking breaks
You're working hard on a time-sensitive project. Hours fly by as you type, your focus never leaving the computer screen.
I'll give you an A for effort, but an F for taking care of yourself.
Completely true. I have an in-depth article on computer ergonomics here. Despite all the 'correct' things I do (monitor size & distance, keyboard height, etc), the one word it really boils down to is motion. And not just popping up for a soda or bathroom break, but motion while seated in the chair; body shifting and leg positions, and what you do with your mouse hand when it's not being used.
4. Not upgrading
I understand why you haven't. Upgrading can cost money. You're used to the way things work. The newer versions might seem more complicated.
Well, those are valid reasons, but at some point enough is enough.
This specifically means online programs. And not only browsers and possibly an email program, but add-ons like Flash and Java. Java, for example, recently had a major upgrade due to a serious security flaw, but it, unlike Flash, doesn't notify you or install it automatically, hence your need to keep up to date by occasionally visiting one of those 'tech sites' like C-Net, Wired or Maggie's Farm.
As for browsers, brace yourself. I'm a little crueler than sweet Kim is. If you're still using Internet Explorer version 6, then you deserve whatever bad thing happens to you. For something that only takes a few clicks of the mouse, there is simply no excuse.
Since the two lines are back-to-back in this section, here are a few examples of what I mean by Kim being a little too cerebral:
Internet Explorer 7 and 8 are in a similar boat. They're way behind on security features and they don't work well with newer websites. Plus, they're really slow.
Actually, they're not 'slow' at all. It's just that they interpret a PHP site (like a blog site) the same way they do a Frames site in that they wait for everything to download before displaying anything. Firefox, by way of contrast, from the beginning has displayed things as they download, giving it the appearance of being much 'faster'. A regular old HTML site, however, would display just as fast on IE 6 as the latest Firefox. In truth, there's never been any such thing as a 'slow' or 'fast' browser.
But you do need to upgrade at a reasonable pace. Many people didn't upgrade while Windows 7 was available. Now they're stuck with Windows 8 and its much-steeper learning curve.
(ahem) Uh, just because it's not the latest & greatest doesn't mean you can't still pick up Win 7. I just now typed "windows 7" in the Office Depot web site and came up with 78 results, from Home to Office versions, from fresh installs to the upgrade disc.
And, somewhat ironically, the reason Win 8 has a "much-steeper learning curve" is because they friggin' destroyed it! Gone is the Start Menu, where everything begins, and the replacement in the new 8.1 version is supposed to be horrid. So, yeah, figuring out how to run everything! would certainly qualify as a 'steep learning curve'.
5. Treating public Wi-Fi like private Wi-Fi
Once they're on the same network, hackers might try to attack your gear directly. Most will settle for snooping on your Web surfing. They're trying to grab bank and other log-in information.
In truth, though, there shouldn't be anything on your computer that you'd mind being stolen. The serious stuff, like login names & passwords to bank accounts and such, should be kept on a piece of paper. Everything else, like for forums and such, can be kept on a Notepad file for quick reference, since these people are only after money-related items.
As for adding some of my own 'tech tips' here at the end, a few things spring to mind:
— You might start employing the "DVD Rule of (Minus) Thumb", where, should someone leave a fingerprint on the bottom side of a DVD disc, they immediately lose that section of their finger so they won't do it again.
— Buy all of your replacement pieces online. My DVD burner blew out a few months ago. $65 at the local Office Depot, $55 online. I hauled out the dead unit, carefully typed the name & model number into Google, and some geek site immediately popped up:
$9.95.
Identical unit, installed in a minute, has worked fine ever since.
— Yes, blast the hell out of the monitor screen with Windex or whatever else you like, ammonia be damned. Not only are the days of the liquid 'wicking up' from below far behind us, but it'd take years for the ammonia to actually do any harm to the screen, and by that time your Chinese-made piece of junk will have long fried itself.
— If you use a wi-fi unit and the USB cable is plugged into the back of the computer, make a download time test and try it plugged into one of the USB ports on the front of the computer. Depending upon the age of the tower, the jacks in the back might not be USB 2.0 like any jacks in front, which (in theory) should be faster. If your time test or download meter indicate it's not, then move it back just so it'll be out of the way.
— On the subject of computer accessories, I suppose I should link to my post on the subject. IMHO, those are all great suggestions. If I could only keep one, it'd be the keyboard.
Any questions or additions, give a holler in the comments.
