This page provides links and articles that relate to safe and enjoyable computing. It will be updated regularly, so check back often.
One of the reasons we moved our web site to Network Solutions servers is because our old host not only had very poor security on his servers, he never did backups! When his servers were attacked by hackers, they mounted powerful viruses that spread through his servers and infected every web site on them, including LZ Russell. When some of our member accessed the web site, they got a virus that caused many of them to loose the data on their hard drives. Some blamed us for that. But anyone who has even a basic understanding of Internet security knows viruses can hit anyone, anytime, from anywhere on the Internet, not just emails. Even the U.S. Government computers get hit, from time to time. That is why backing up is so important.
In today's computing world the only way you can be completely safe from Internet threats is to never get on the Internet. Even with recent updates of the most advanced firewalls and virus protection, you are not entirely safe from Internet predators. That is why having a backup procedure and using it regularly is so important to safe computing. Even if your main hard drive melts, a good backup system can have you up and running with no losses, as soon as you install the new hard drive.
If you are running the Windows operating system, you don't have to buy backup software, because Windows comes with it. You can find it in your control panel. Just click to open it and follow the easy directions. Believe it or not, many people back up their system on the same hard drive their system is on! This is a big mistake. You can find low prices on large external USB hard drives at most computer suppliers, or on line. USB means you just plug it into one of your existing USB ports and it is ready to go, in most cases. Many hard drives come with backup software that has more features than the Windows Backup program, but they are not necessary in most cases. Keep it simple and you will be more inclined to keep it safe.
I don't care what you do, or how you do it, someday you are going to lose your hard drive. When that happens, you better pray you have your computer backed up. The rule of thumb for backing up your computer is back it up when ever you put something in it you don't want to loose. I back up whenever I make large changes to files and have an automatic back up scheduled for once a week too.
When you backup, be sure to also back up your email address book. If you run Outlook as your email program, click on help/backup to see how to do this. It's easy! Yet most people who back up their computers fail to back up their .pst files and then scream bloody murder when they lose their address book. Be sure to back it up to your external hard drive that you bought for that purpose.
Getting connected to the Internet and not having an up to date Virus protection program in your computer and operating at all times is no longer an option. Ignoring this is like taking a nap on train tracks. You will get hit. It is just a question of when. Because we are a large web site with visitors from governments and people from around the world, LZ Russell's computers are attacked at least 8 to 10 times a week. Some folks just hate it when someone does something good for the world!
There are hundreds of virus protection programs you can buy. Some Internet services, like AOL provide virus protection in certain aspects of their programming, but relying on these alone is not a wise thing to do at all. Nothing beats having your own program installed on your computer.
The two most popular Virus programs are Norton Anti-Virus, by Symantic, and McAfee. I have used both and both seem to do the job according to industry reports. I use Symantic, because I already had it installed on another computer and I bought the full professional suite, which includes an advanced firewall and several utilities for keeping your computer system operating smoothly.
Which ever security system you buy, use it religiously! Be sure to subscribe to the automatic updates, so the latest anti-virus files will be updated to your computer, and don't let this expire. If you do, you will pay dearly. Always double-check to see that your virus protection and firewall are activated.
Even with taking these precautions, a hacker can put out a new virus that no one ever saw before that may reach your computer before the anti-virus companies can spot them and create a fix to load in your computer. More often than not, this would happen at a major corporation, rather than in an individual's home computer. Still, it has happened. That is why even with the best firewalls and virus protection, you are running a great risk if you don't backup your hard drive to a separate hard drive.
I had one guy in Beijing, China, put a spy program on my hard drive (before I understood good security measures), that I could not remove any other way than erase my hard drive. Fortunately, I had a recent backup of all my files, so it just meant a tough day of reinstalling all the programs and then restoring the files to the erased hard drive. That is why a full computer backup is such a good thing. It makes a carbon copy of your entire computer and keeps them backed up. It takes a long time to get the original backup done, but once done, incremental backups to update the files are almost automatic. I learned that the hard way.
Spy ware is like a virus. It can sneak in and go to work without you even knowing it is on your computer. A good firewall and anti-virus protection can stop most of it. There are even protection programs that are designed specifically to stop spy ware. But your best protection is to make your important private files secure inside of your computer.
There are many encruption programs you can buy. Windows XP Operating System includes them. Symantic's professional security suite includes a password program that automaticall records any password you use for anything you access in your computer, or on the Internet, and encrypts them from spying eyes. It also automatically fills in user name and passwords where they are needed, after you have made one entry. Very handy if you use a lot of passwords.
You may have your social security number, drivers license number, credit card numbers and other sensitive files on your computer, ready for identity thieves to enjoy. There are no absolute protections, other than keeping those sensitive files out of your computer and printed on paper instead. Still, there are simple protections that can stop all but government level hackers...and if they want you, they got you, no matter what you do.
One of the easiest protections is to store your sensitive documents in Zip folders that are password protected. Then pick a password no one can figure out. Using a combination of letters and numbers is best, but be sure to write it down and store it where you can get at it. if you loose that password, you will never be able to open that Zip Folder. Zip Folders are simple to make and you can learn how by typing "Zip" in your Windows help file.