Safe Computing

1. Use firefox (www.mozilla.com/firefox/) not IE as your browser.
   


2. Don't click on fake ads which try and trick you and say there is a virus on you computer so click here now to get it removed. They then get you to install the virus/adware.
   


3. Don't click on executable attachments .exe, .dll, .bat, videos, screen savers (http://antivirus.about.com/od/securitytips/a/fileextview.htm) from an attachment ever even if you know the person. Even if they are a close friend and you can tell they legitimately sent it to you (because the text of the email was obviously written to you and not a generic message written by a virus or a forward, still don't. ) You usually can't trust others to have gotten the app from a reputable source so it still may contain a virus. Just ignore the email attachment.
   


4. If you get an email with an attachment from someone you know or don't know. (A lot of virus's spread through people you know). Don't open an attachment even its a word file, or excel file, video file, etc no matter what they say it is unless there is something personally identifiable in the email which tells you a human you know sent it to you and only to you ignore forwards. For example if it says "this is cool try it." Don't. If they say this video is cool watch it, still don't. This includes forwards, they weren't written to you personally so don't trust them. If you want a way to figure out if it was a virus or a person sent it to you, respond to the person who sent it to you and ask if they meant to send it. They will get the response and probably be very confused because 1) they didn't send it and won't know what your talking about, or 2) they will be insulted because they don't understand why you're questioning them. So its usually easier to just ignore the attachment.
   


5. Don't follow links people send you in emails unless its to a reputable site. Youtube is ok.
   


6. Don't use filesharing programs like Kaaza or limewire. Kaaza installs spyware.
   


7. Don't go to bad parts of the web. Hacker sites, porn sites, stolen software sites, etc. Stay in the nice neighborhoods.
   


8. Keep your machine patched. Let it auto update your browser, your OS, your plugins, your apps etc. Keep MS word, Acrobat reader, excel and powerpoint patched as well. Basically patch everything, not just your browser.
   


9. Install anti-virus software on your computer.
   


10. Install anti-spyware/adware software on your computer.
    


11. Set up windows to always show all file extensions. The reason for this is some malware type programs try to hide what they really are. You will get a file with the extensions stuff.jpg.exe. But because windows hides they .exe it will look just like a jpg (image) to you and you'll run it and it will infect you. Don't click on files with suspicious double extensions. Instructions on how to do this http://www.fileinfo.com/help/windows-show-extensions.html
    
    
12. Don't send forwards with attachments, or links to sites you don't trust. You are convincing others to do the things email suggests against.
    


13. If send a forward even without links or attachments, clean it up first. Get rid of the FWD:FWD:FWD text in the subject and leave just one FWD. Get rid of all the >> signs, remove all the old email addresses from previous people. Remove the "please forward me now" chain letter stuff. Use bcc (blind carbon copy), rather than cc (carbon copy). That will hide who you send it to. If you send a forward with cc, rather than bcc you are giving out all of your friends email addresses to everyone you know, and if they forward it they are are giving your friends email addresses to everyone they know, and the cycle continues. At some point much further done the line, you are possibly giving all of your friends email addresses to spammers.
    


14. If you do see lots of stuff on the web you want to send on including forwards, don't forward them. Get a facebook or blog account instead. Send the link to your account to your friends. Then you can post it all in one place, plus a good place to post your thoughts, musings, and pictures and have discussions with friends, both through chat and leaving messages. It's considered more polite than sending a lot of forwards because if people have the same interests as you, they will go to your site and if not, they won't. Plus they can talk to you and the rest of your friends in a more fun/interactive way. If you do get a blogger account, don't put your name in it or anything personally identifiable because it is very public. But facebook is ok to leave your name because you can limit who can see your page, but then be careful who you accept as friends.