The Alfred Computer Guy: Five Tips to Keep a Clean Computer
Working for the ITS department, I handle my fair share of computers infected with viruses, spyware, adware and other forms of malware. Such attacks have become so commonplace that they are simply an accepted reality for Windows users.
Some say that the reason for such attacks is that Windows is inherently less secure than its alternative counterparts. Others argue that it’s because Windows machines make up a vastly larger percentage of the computer world out there, which makes Microsoft and their products much bigger targets. Whatever the reasoning might be, if you follow a few simple common-sense rules, there is no reason that malware should ever infect your computer to the point of rendering it unusable.
1. Preserve your data. I don’t mean just the regular backups of your user data (documents, pictures and the like), but also keeping your CDs and DVDs safe and sound. The discs that came with your computer can be immensely invaluable. For each software purchase you make, hang on to the CDs, the license code and even the retail box if you can. Everything that is on your computer should be available and at hand so that if you do need to wipe the slate clean and start over, you can be back up and running in just a few hours.
2. Run your updates. This goes for both your operating system and your antivirus program. Many of the viruses and malware out there have already been addressed and dealt with, but you won’t receive the benefit of those patches unless you download and install your Windows and antivirus updates.
3. Know your software. I really can’t stress this one enough. This has become an overwhelming problem recently, and it is by far the biggest cause of infections I’ve seen this year. If you are running Sophos Antivirus and a pop-up claiming that “SuperWonderfulWindows Antivirus has detected your computer is infected! Click here to clean!” then you should have the sense to just close the browser window and run your own antivirus manually for good measure. Pop-ups like this are more often than not an attempt to trick a user into downloading and installing the very infections they are attempting to protect themselves from.
4. Understand your software. Become intimately knowledgeable with the functionality and features of your security software. What’s the difference between Spybot Cleaning and Spybot Immunization? What is TeaTimer and what does it do? What will happen if the firewall in my Norton Antivirus suite competes with the Windows firewall? It’s easy to gloss over these types of questions and just keep things running in the background, ignored for the sake of convenience and apathy. Just remember that convenience and apathy become liabilities in situations where you need to recover your computer from an infection that could have been avoided.
5. Practice safe online habits. Peer to peer software such as BearShare, Limewire and the like can be dangerous and tricky, even in experienced hands. Torrents from unknown or shady sources equally so. Violating copyrights and licenses through sketchy downloads, “No CD” cracks and “keygens” is like playing Russian Roulette. Use your head, and if you want a song, video, or software application that badly, then do the right thing and just pay for it.
There you go. Five tried and true common sense tips that I guarantee will help keep your computer clean and running smoothly. Though I wouldn’t recommend it to most users, the fact is that I can (and often do) get by with running no antivirus program whatsoever just by following these guidelines.
Do you have any questions you would like to ask? Send me an e-mail at: stone@alfred.edu with the subject “Alfred Computer Guy”. Mac, PC, Linux, OS/2 Warp, NeXT… hit me with your best shot!
