That's the bottom line; you ... Doing anything is bette

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Ten Things You Should Do to Your Computer Today

• Don Yarman Jim Mann
• OLC IT Division
• Small Libraries Conference
• May 2006

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The First Four Things

• Automatic Updates
• Firewall
• Antivirus
• Adware/Spyware Removal
• Thats the bottom line you may go to another
  session.
• If you want to know more or want to argue, please
  stay.

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Our Objectives

• Doing anything is better than doing nothing.
• Any recommendations may not be the absolute
  best thing you can do -- thats a moving target
  anyway.
• Well present a baseline of what you must do,
  some recommendations of how to do it, and well
  discuss what you can do above and beyond the
  minimum.

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Credit where its due

• OPLINTECH list, 30 June 2004How to keep your PC
  spyware and malware free for nothing!Jim
  Kenzig, Cuyahoga County PLhttp//www.thinworkplac
  e.com/article_read.asp?id62
• WindowsSecrets.comSecurity Baseline

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What Im talking about

• Personal computers (at home or library)
• Windows operating system (esp. XP)
• Any Internet connection (esp. broadband)

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1. Enable Automatic Updates

• Latest service packs and hot fixes
• To enable
• Go to your Control Panel
• Automatic Updates or Security Center
• Second or Third radio button
• Second option? You have to install
• Third button not good choice if you dont have
  broadband at home

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Older PC without Automatic Updates

• Update manually through Internet
  Explorerhttp//update.microsoft.com
• Scan for and install all critical updates
• Return repeatedly to get all updates
• New Microsoft Update includes Office(Do you know
  where your Office disks are?)

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2. Install a good firewall

• If you have Windows XP, enable Windows Internet
  Connection Firewall.
• Automatically enabled in Service Pack 2
• Directions on Microsoft sitehttp//www.microsoft.
  com/windowsxp/using/networking/learnmore/icf.mspx

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Not Windows XP?

• Obtain good software or purchase router with a
  hardware firewall
• Norton/McAfee firewall and antivirus
• WindowsSecrets.com recommends Linksys hardware
  firewalls and ZoneAlarm Security Suite
  6http//www.zonelabs.com
• With software firewalls, the first time that you
  run any program that tries to access the
  Internet, a pop-up will ask if you want to allow
  it. (You will be amazed).

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3. Maintain Antivirus

• No excuses.
• Review leaders ConsumerSearch.com saysSmart
  Computing, PC Magazine, CNet.com
• Best McAfee Virus Scan 2006 (with complaints)
• Free Avast! 4 Home editionhttp//www.avast.com
  Grisoft AVG Free editionhttp//www.free.grisoft.c
  om
• Spend the money. Update definitions daily.

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Opinions are likeum.
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Remove Adware

• Best SpyWare Sweeperhttp//www.webroot.com/
• Runner Up Spyware Doctorhttp//www.pctools.com/
  spyware-doctor/
• Free Microsoft Windows Defender
  betahttp//www.microsoft.com/spywareAd-Aware
  SE Personalhttp//www.lavasoft.com

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ConsumerSearch again
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A Joke and a Cartoon

• How to prevent viruses
• Board up the basements

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Know Where to Get Help

• Google
• WebJunction
• Hardware/software vendor sites
• Microsoft
• Join a user group

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The Road Less Traveled

• Firefox
• Open Office
• Gmail
• Apple
• Linux
• Linspire
• Ubuntu

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Work More Click Less

• Email tips
• http//email.about.com/cs/tipsandtricks/tp/top_tip
  s.htm
• General tips
• http//www.psu.edu/studentcomputing/tips-preface.h
  tml
• http//www.csoonline.com/read/050104/briefing_tips
  .html
• IE tips
• http//www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/enthusiast/top
  ten.mspx
• Keyboard shortcuts
• http//www.computerhope.com/shortcut.htm

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Get Twice as Much of Everything

• Buy more RAM
• Buy a bigger hard drive
• Go wireless
• Get a new monitor
• Upgrade your software
• Have a throw-away computer

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Have a Plan C

• Make regular backups
• Have an image of your computer
• Keep your disks, documentation and licenses handy

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Find Treasure inUnexpected Places

• Disabled Womens Network
• AARP
• http//www.komando.com/
• http//www.pchell.com/

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Be Aware Be Smart Be Honest

• Ask yourself Where am I? What do I see?
• Take 2 minutes to troubleshoot your own problem
• Is the caps lock on?
• Is it plugged in?
• Being smart will prevent spyware and spam
• What is the last thing you did before you didnt
  do anything?

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Updates Updates Updates

• Critical updates to your operating system
• Access updates in your firewall rules
• Definition updates for your antivirus
• Definition updates for adware removal

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Other things that help

• Spam management
• MSN, Yahoo, AOL
• Pop-up blockers
• Google advanced toolbar
• Content filtering
• Im not talking about patrons I mean you.
• AdSubtract.com or userContent.csshttp//www.mozil
  la.org/support/firefox/adblock

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Questions?

• Don Yarman (yarmando_at_oplin.org)OPLIN Library
  Services Manager
• Jim Mann (jmann_at_gcpl.lib.oh.us)
• Technology Coordinator
• GCPL
• This presentation is available online at
  www.oplin.org/presentations/tenthings.ppt