Tehno-Tips: Getting
the Most from Your PC

Ready or not, we’re in the information age; all this electronic
communication brings both good things and bad.

I work with computers and networks every day and a recent security
session I attended just emphasizes the need to stay alert and keep up
with all the bad guys. Staying on top of security 1s not especially easy,
but it’s not that complicated either.

Being on the Internet and recetving e-mail has its share of dangers.
There’s one going around with Sue Griese’s e-mail asking to send some
money to Nigeria; beware, it’s a scam. Its arrival in my inbox made me
think it’s a good time to remind everyone about security and protection
for your computer. Here is a list of things you should know or do:

" Keep your computer up to date with software patches.
Windows Update 1s a good thing; you should get it up to date
and regularly download and apply the fixes and patches. Not
doing so can leave you open to the bad guys.

" Have an Antivirus program installed and loaded at all times
(and have it regularly updated.)

" Have a firewall program installed and activated at all times.
Windows XP comes with one or you can load one of the free
ones available on the web.

" Have a spyware program installed and actrvated at all times
and regularly updated.

" Do not open any attachments in any e-mails that you do not
trust or are not expecting,

" Excel, Word, PowerPoint, executable programs (.exe)
are very dangerous. PDK, text and JPG files are relatively
benign.

" Do not click on any links in any e-mails that you do not
trust or are not expecting. Don’t click on it just because it
says “I love you” or “Free ...”

" Do not respond to any e-mails that ask for personal
information of any kind (That’s your name, userid, passwords,
account numbers, address, etc.) They will be very deceptive
and look very official. These are called phishing e-mails and are
an attempt to get sensitive information from you 1n order to
gain financially.

"It does not matter where the e-mail comes from! The
from field tn the e-mail can easily be changed. If they
ask you to click on a link which says “TD BANK’ or
something official sounding, that too can be easily
changed... so don’t do it. It’s only safe 1f you initiate the
5 continued on page 7...

“Do not
respond to an
emails that as

for personal

information

of any kind

(That's your
name, userid,

passwords,

account numbers,

address, etc.)”

Zs

POTTERS

GUILD

of BRITISH
COLUMBIA