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MSN Tech: Be a Better Computer Caretaker

Today on MSN Tech & Gadgets, a good article on how to be a better computer caretaker” “You spent good money on your PC. You might as well take good care of it, too.”



  • Get your operating system on CD and create those recovery disks

  • Do a backup

  • Run your disk defragmenter

  • Remember these three words: uninterruptible power supply

  • Don’t cold reboot

  • Watch the environment

  • Take care of your peripherals

Certainly agree with all of these items.


We had to reinstall the OS on one of our machines at home, and finding the original OEM operating system CDs was relatively easy. If you have multiple PCs in your household, write on the CDs which PC they are paired, as many are specific not only to an OEM brand but model.


As for back ups, if you don’t archive with a utility (like OneCare) then do a drag copy of your important folders from “My Documents” on to a recordable CD or DVD, or an external hard disk: the prices of external USB 2.0 drives is cheap enough for everyone to have a back up drive. At a minimum, shoot for backing up once a month. 


If you live where the power is subject to weather impacts (we have trees that bring down the lines a couple of times in the winter) then an uninterruptible power supply is a must. Although we have laptops in the house, we also have a whole house surge supressor that installs on the mains into the home. And use fused and filtered power bars for your equipment, a standard feature on many uninterruptible power supplies.  


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Mike Nash on Securing your Small Business

MikeNash Nash presented an on-demand webcast for the Small Business Summit this past March, and presented a session on “Is Your Business at Risk? Tools To Use.” (View the webcast here.)



“The bad news is there is a lot of bad stuff out there: Malware. Pirates. Viruses. And more evil. The good news is that the industry — and Microsoft — has made great strides in its efforts to combat and prevent malicious software attacks. Mike Nash, Microsoft’s VP of Security discusses the dangers and how you can steer clear of them.”


Mike is on sabbatical (now with Ben Fathi at the helm), and I expect that he’s spending lots of time with family… which in this case includes customers of all sizes, from individual consumers to small businesses. I like that he understands what it’s like to be your family’s resident IT Pro. He’s just as at home with these customers as he is with large enterprise customers when it comes to dicussing security.


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Microsoft security updates for Aug ’06

Updates for August are noew available here, on the Microsoft security update bulletins site.


Other helpful info from the site:



How to get the updates


To get the Windows update for your home computer or laptop go to the Microsoft Update Web site now.
NOTE: Please review the FAQ on the site to see whether updates for your versions of Windows, Office, or PowerPoint are available on Microsoft Update. If they are not, go to Windows Update or Office Update.


To manually download the Windows update, go to Microsoft Update. After your computer has been scanned to see which updates it needs, click the Custom button to find and choose the update you want to install. We recommend you install all Critical updates immediately.


We recommend that you get the updates delivered automatically to your PC. When your computer is on and connected to the Internet, the most current security updates are automatically downloaded and installed. See how to use Automatic Updates: Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me.


Other steps you can take to help protect your computer



As always, Microsoft recommends that you get the updates delivered automatically to your PC. When your computer is on and connected to the Internet, the most current security updates are automatically downloaded and installed. See how to use Automatic Updates: Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me.


More info:



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Microsoft security updates summary for May 2006

From the Microsoft at home web site today (May 9)…



As part of Microsoft’s routine, monthly security update cycle we released the following new security updates on May 9, 2006:



  • MS06-018 – addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 
  • MS06-020 – addresses a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows

The May 2006 Bulletin Release is discussed in more detail in the Microsoft Security Response Center Blog.


To get the Windows update for your home computer or laptop go to the Microsoft Update Web site now. To manually download the Windows update, go to Microsoft Update. After your computer has been scanned to see which updates it needs, click the Custom button to find and choose the update you want to install. Microsoft recommends you install all Critical updates immediately.


Microsoft recommends that you get the updates delivered automatically to your PC. When your computer is on and connected to the Internet, the most current security updates are automatically downloaded and installed. See how to use Automatic Updates: Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me.


More info:



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Cybersafety and staying safe online

I’m clearing out the email that I missed this week due to a number of big reviews and meetings (apologies), and one was from a reader and associate who noted that my entry on creating strong passwords (and passphrases) was quickly followed by a couple of similar stories in the press. Or was it that I was following up on the press reporting a number of cybersafety stories?


First, she points out, there is this article in the Seattle Times on cybersafety which noted that the AARP reported that…



• About half of Washington computer users don’t recognize phishing scams — 49 percent said they were unaware that banks don’t send e-mails to customers asking them to click a link to verify account information.


• About three-quarters of Washington Internet users didn’t know that a Web site’s privacy policy does not prevent the company from sharing customers’ personal information with others.


• Six in 10 computer users believe incorrectly that, by law, a Web site comparing prices of products or services must include the lowest available price.


I particularly appreciated the sidebar on six tips for staying safe online:



  1. Protect your privacy and personal information
  2. Be alert online
  3. Delete junk e-mail
  4. Use strong passwords
  5. Use antivirus software and a firewall
  6. Be smart about downloading

More info:



  • Free AARP Cyber Safety Seminars Offered: AARP teams with Microsoft, the Attorney General’s Office and the FTC to launch online safety campaign.
  • Stay Safer on the Internet: AARP Washington’s Cyber Safety Toolkit is available to help you stay safer on the Internet.
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