How to be a responsible computer user, Part One
Microsoft has made it fairly easy to keep up with 'Critical' updates. Some of
the updates in the past have been fairly large and if you are using Windows XP,
Microsoft has made available a free CD that you can request and they will mail it
to you, free postage and all. Can't beat free! The current CD available is
Windows XP SP2. It contains all of the critical updates ever issued for Windows
XP, both Home and Pro editions. If you are using Windows XP,
get the free CD available here!
Or open Google and type in 'Windows XP SP2.' It is the first entry at the time
of writing this article.
If you are using an earlier version of Windows, all you have to do is click on
the 'Windows Update' that is on the menu of every Windows based computer. The
update feature will scan your computer and then show you what is available for
your computer.
(Please note: This is for the more 'paranoid', Microsoft does not care what you
have on your computer and will not steal any of your confidential information. It
is safe to use the update feature!) See more about using Windows update!
Just about every computer comes with a number of programs. Some of these
programs are 'trials', meaning they are only good for a short period of time.
Generally, the virus scanner that comes installed on your new computer is a trial
version. In order to keep the virus scanner up to date and working to keep your
computer free from new and nasty virus, you have to pay for the
program. Most of the commercial virus scanners on the market also require you to
pay an annual fee for what they call the subscription for the virus update or
'dat' files. When you pay for the program the first time, you get the first
year's subscription. This is also true if you buy a boxed version of the
program.
Ok, did you pay for your virus scanner after the trial period? Maybe you
intended to pay for it, but just got busy and forgot about it. No big deal,
right? Wrong! If you are extremely lucky you don't have any viruses on your
computer. Chances are, you have more than one! Maybe after buying your computer
and paying for the other programs you really want to use, you are a little short
of money, so the virus scanner program can wait a while longer. Wrong! The virus
scanner should come first! If you get a virus that destroys all of your data, how
are you going to justify no virus scanner?
You don't have to buy the program that came on your computer. There are several
very good and free virus scanners you can download and use indefinitely! The
companies that provide the free scanners hope you will upgrade to their paid
versions, but you don't have to upgrade. For free virus
scanners, look at this page.
Next, How to be a
responsible computer user, Part 2