|
Advice
And Commentary
The Onsite
PC Doctor's Hardware Recommendations
People are always asking the Doctor what to look for in a new computer. The
Doctor doesn't recommend hardware brands here, just the minimum specs required for you to
be happy with your new machine for several years without spending a lot of money
on upgrades. This includes the ability to run Windows Vista, Microsoft's
new operating system.
These specs are for the typical small business user who needs word processing, spread sheets,
web browsing, e-mail, digital photo editing, CD burning, etc., along with the
ability to run line-of-business (LOB) database applications. Users who do heavy
graphics and video editing and other resource intensive work need to
increase these figures accordingly. Keep in mind that these are the
minimums you should consider. They will cost you between $800-$1200 for a
PC (depending on monitor) and $1000-$1500 for laptops. The PCs that are
advertised in the media costing $400 are not worth consideration unless
cost is the only factor.
Desktop:
CPU:
Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64x2
Memory: 2GB RAM
Hard Drive: 320GB SATA with bay for extra hard drive
Optical Drive: 16x DVD+/- RW
Ethernet: Built-in Gigabit Ethernet Card
Operating System: Windows Vista Business or Vista Ultimate
Software: Microsoft Office 2007
for Small Business
Video Card: 256MB PCI Express Card
USB/ Firewire: Built in USB 2.0 and Firewire support
Display: 19” Flat Panel LCD
Laptop:
CPU:
Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory: 2GB RAM
Hard Drive: 160GB SATA 7200RPM
Optical Drive: 16x DVD+/- RW
Ethernet: Built-in Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11G Wireless Ethernet
Operating System: Windows Vista Business or Vista Ultimate
Software: Microsoft Office 2007
for Small Business
Video Card: Minimum 128MB RAM
USB/Firewire: Built-in USB 2.0 and Firewire support
Display: 15” for desktop replacement, 11” to 14” for travel (Back
Up)
The Onsite PC Doctor's
Software Recommendations
Here's a list of
the Doctor's current software recommendations for small businesses and SOHOs
(small office/home office). These include operating systems, utilities, and
office productivity applications. It's by no means exhaustive, and doesn't
include business-specific programs like CRM (customer relation management), LOB or
accounting software. It's just a list of the best basic applications any
business needs to start getting work done.
Desktop Operating System:
Microsoft Windows
Vista Business or Ultimate . It's taken awhile, but Vista is now
at the point where business users should make the upgrade when they purchase
their next computer. Most hardware and software vendors have released Vista
compatible versions of their products. Vista Business features improved
security, reliability and data protection over XP Professional. Why not Vista Home
Premium or Mac OS X? Vista Home Premium doesn't network
well, doesn't allow remote access using Remote Desktop Connection, and doesn't
offer the security, backup and recovery functions that Vista Business does. Mac
OS X is suitable for home users and small networks, but can't run most LOB and
CRM database applications, and doesn't play well with Windows server based
networks. If
you're considering upgrading to Vista, make sure your new computer has enough
horsepower and that your hardware and software is compatible.
Server Operating System:
Microsoft
Windows Small Business Server 2003. If you run a small business with five or more
users, you should be using Small Business Server 2003. The benefits in terms of
cost savings, increased productivity and security over a
peer-to peer network are many. Small Business Server (SBS) gives you secure file
sharing with Windows 2003 Server and centralized email, calendaring and mobile
access with Exchange Server 2003 and Outlook 2003. Users can access all their
files, email, calendar and contacts from any computer in the office, at home, or on the
road. SBS is designed for small businesses without a full-time IT person,
allowing non-IT staff to perform basic server management. Enhanced security, a
built-in fire wall and centralized backup protect your vital data.
Office Productivity Suite:
Microsoft Office 2007 for Small
Business. Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint are the
defacto standard programs in their category for the entire civilized world, so
if you don't have them, you're at a serious disadvantage. Office 2007 presents
users with a dramatically new interface that some people find hard to get used
to. Once you take the time to learn the ropes, you'll find that overall it's an
improvement over Office 2003.
Email Client:
Microsoft Outlook 2007. Outlook is the standard email software for
businesses for a good reason: It's ease of use and ability to combine mail, calendars, tasks, and
contacts in one seamless program makes it a no-brainer for any office.
Outlook 2007 is a big upgrade over older versions of Outlook in terms of search
function, security,
ability to handle large data files, junk mail filtering, and integration with
Exchange Server 2003.
Internet Browser:
Mozilla Firefox
2.0 or
Internet
Explorer 7.0. It's a toss up. The newest Firefox, while more secure than
IE7, is not
impenetrable (no browser is), and still has an annoying tendency to use
excessive CPU cycles. IE7's menu and toolbar take up too much space on a small
screen. IE7 security is much improved in Windows XP. With Vista, IE7 it will be
even tighter, making it much harder for attackers to take over your system.
Anti-Virus Software For Home/Home
Office:
AVG
Anti-Malware.
Computer users have to be extra vigilant
these days due to the breadth and sophistication of criminal hackers intent on
stealing your money and identity. There are many programs to choose from.
The most important factor to consider is the software's ability to detect and
remove threats (viruses, trojans, spyware, etc.) in addition to not slowing your computer to a crawl.
Automatic updates and free
download/trial versions doesn't hurt, either. AVG Anti-Malware does all that and at $34
for one year and $45 for two, it's a good deal,
too.
Anti-Virus Software For Businesses:
Trend Micro
Client Server Messaging Security for SMB. Trend Micro has a
well-deserved reputation in the small-to-medium business market for providing
reliable, affordable and easy-to-manage security products for offices with
server-based networks.
Web Hosting Service:
TRK Hosting. OK, this is not a
software product, it's a service. But the Doctor is constantly asked by
clients wanting to get a domain name and a web site who they should use for web
hosting. There must be thousands of companies that offer this service. Some are
corporations with fleets of servers, others may be a guy with a server in
his closet, still others have no computers, they're just resellers. It's some
times hard to tell from looking at their web sites exactly who they are and
where they're located, and talking to a live person can be problematic. TRK
Hosting is located in the USA, has its own servers, and offers very competitive
pricing with good service. They actually have people who answer the phone if you
have a problem, or if they're busy, they will call you back
soon.
(Back Up)
Your PC
Crashed. The OS Needs To Be Re-Installed.
Fix It Or Buy A New
One?
It depends on a number of factors, including your computer's
age, the nature of the problem, what you use it for, what kind of data is on it, and how much your time is
worth. Here are some general guidelines that may help you decide whether to fix
it or trash it. The scenarios outlined below assume your computer needs major
work, such as a new hard drive or some other problem that requires the
re-installation of the operating system (OS).
1. Your Computer Is Old
If your computer is more than five years old, runs Windows 95, 98, ME or Mac
OS 9, has
256MB or less of memory, a 20GB or smaller hard drive and a Pentium III
1Ghz processor or slower, you should consider buying a new one. Prices of new
computers have come down to around $600.00 (without monitor) for a decently
performing machine. The only time it might make sense to keep the old one is if
you only use it for word processing, light e-mail and internet browsing, have very little data to backup, and the
computer comes with a recovery/restore disk that automates the reinstallation of
the OS. You still have to backup your data before you reinstall the OS, restore
the data and any software that was added since you bought the computer, and patch it with all available security packs, anti-virus/anti-spyware
software, etc. An onsite technician would charge anywhere from $180-$300 to do
all of this for you. Keep in mind that many new programs and hardware won't run
on old PCs with the versions of Windows mentioned above, so this solution only
works until you need an upgrade, or you have software that won't run on newer
versions of your OS.
If your computer is old and is having performance problems, then
you should definitely upgrade. Keep in mind, however, that buying a new computer
costs more than just the price of the hardware. The new computer has to be setup
out-of-the-box, which for some users is a total mystery. You must copy the
data off the old computer as well as all the settings for your e-mail accounts,
etc. and import them into the new one. You also have to setup and configure your
internet connection and lock down the PC with proper security. An onsite tech will charge anywhere from $100-$200
or more to do this for you depending on the complexity of the setup. Whether you
do it yourself or hire someone like The Onsite PC Doctor, remember the adage
"time is money."
2. Your Computer Is Not That Old
If your computer is less than five years old, runs Windows 2000, XP or Mac
OS X, has 512MB or more of memory, a 40GB or larger hard drive and a Pentium IV
or equivalent processor, you should probably fix it. A PC with these specs and
additional memory should also be able to upgrade
Windows
Vista. A new PC starting at $400 won't be that
much faster than your current one after it's fixed, so unless your needs demand
a faster computer, it's more cost effective to repair it. The cost for an onsite
repair ($180-$300) is about the same as for an old PC. Factors that make repairs
more expensive include not having installation disks available, dial-up internet
(lengthy patch downloads), defective hardware, users not remembering passwords
to e-mail accounts, etc. You can "save" money by taking your computer
to a shop instead of hiring an onsite professional. Most PC shops will backup
your files (better make your own backup first), format the hard drive,
reinstall Windows (make sure they install a legitimate copy of Windows), install the
drivers and copy your backup into a folder on the hard drive. That's about it.
You'll have to hook up your computer to your network/internet, setup your
e-mail, import your messages, documents and address books, reinstall your programs and
printers, etc. With The Onsite PC Doctor, the price includes setting up everything, so when
you boot up you can get to work right away without having to fuss with
configuration settings. If you're buying a new computer, remember the extra
cost/time involved in transferring your files and settings from your old
machine.
Once everything is up and running again, do yourself a favor by
making sure your antivirus software is current and working and that you have a
firewall setup. Install real-time
scanning anti-spyware software. Configure Windows Updates to download and install patches automatically. Don't install programs or
open attachments if you're not sure what they are. Don't download
"free" software or music files. If you like to troll the seamier parts
of the internet, don't be surprised when your computer is targeted by trojans
and spyware. For more information, see Computer
Security.
(Back
Up)
I Should
Backup My Data. What's The Best Way?
Backing up critical data is one of the most important and most
neglected tasks in the computing world. Typical attitudes towards data backups range from "It can't happen to me" to "I'm too busy to
make backups, I'll do it when I have free time" to "Backing up is too
complicated." A universal computing truth is that
someday you will lose important data. It's not a question of if, but when. When someone accidentally
or purposefully deletes files, your hard drive dies, or a fire/flood/lightening
destroys your PC, you're out of luck unless you have a good backup. Yes, sometimes
a data recovery service can restore all or some information from a dead
hard drive, but they can cost over a thousand dollars for one drive,
especially if you need it ASAP.
The perfect backup system would be easy to install and allow you
to quickly and reliably backup all your data on a regular schedule with little
or no user intervention. You would be able to easily store the backup off-site
if necessary. If you needed to recover lost files or an entire hard drive, you
would be able to quickly and easily restore the data back to its original state. The
cost for such a scenario would be in line with your budget. Unfortunately no
backup system is able to do all of the above. There are inevitable trade-offs
involved when juggling speed, ease-of-use, reliability, security, cost, etc. So
here's a list of common
backup systems and their pros and cons. Note that this is not
a lesson on how to run a backup. Some methods outlined below can be figured out
by moderately competent users, others may require the services of a computer
consultant like The Onsite PC Doctor. If you have
questions about backups (or anything else computer related), drop us a line at shc@onsitepcdoc.com.
Removable Disks:
Removable disks include 3.5" floppies, Zip disks, recordable CD's and
DVD's and other less common media. They are readily available, portable and easy to use. Your PC usually comes with
backup software for these devices, or you can simply drag and drop or copy and
paste data onto them. The disadvantage with removable disks is that they're
expensive on a price-per gigabyte basis, they don't hold a
lot of data, they're slow, and they require a lot of user intervention because
they don't do automatic backups well. The media used on some of these disks
(floppies, CD-R's) is not very
durable and not suitable for archiving. They're really only good for home users
who have a few files to backup on an occasional basis.
External/Internal Hard Drives:
Prices for external USB drives are now less than $1.00 per gigabyte, making
them a logical choice for any SOHO (small office/home office) backup system.
Internal hard drives are even less. A 200-300GB external USB drive will suffice
for many small business, especially when used in conjunction with backup
software that backups only new or changed files and discards backups older than
a certain date. Most external hard drives come with backup software that can be
set to run automatically on a regular basis. Windows 2000 and XP Professional
come with a built-in backup program, NTBackup. USB hard drives are fast
(make sure you connect them to a USB 2.0 port), easy to install (plug and play
for Windows 2000 and XP) and reliable, as long as you don't drop them. NAS
(Networked Attached Storage) drives plug directly into a network hub, bypassing
the need to be connected to a PC. They're available to all computers on the
network, sort of like a file server, and can also function as print
servers.
The
disadvantages of external drives are several: They're bulky and not designed to be portable (if you
want true portability you have to pay more for less capacity), so you can't
easily store them off-site. If they die for whatever reason all your backups
are lost rather than just one CD-R or tape. You could also buy an additional
internal hard drive or use a second drive already in your PC that doesn't
contain data and use that for a backup. You would gain some backup speed over
the external drives but you would have the same downside but more so: no portability and no
redundancy.
Tape Drives:
Tape is an old technology but still considered to be the gold standard for
backups, especially in offices with server-based networks. Tape drive technology has kept up
with the increase in backup size and the need for speed with devices that backup
hundreds of gigabytes of data at speeds approaching internal disk drives. Tape
cartridges provide off-site portability and storage and eliminate the single
point-of-failure problem found with external drives. All of this comes at a cost,
however. High capacity/high speed tape systems are much more expensive on a price-per-gigabyte basis than
removable disks or external drives, putting them out of the reach of many small
businesses.
Low cost tape systems are not worth the money saved. Tape drives and cartridges have lots of moving parts and magnetic media which
are subject to wear
and failure if not maintained. Someone must change cartridges daily or at least
monitor the backup jobs. If you have a client-server network with large amounts
of data that need to be backed up daily and with off-site storage a must, a well-maintained high performance
tape backup system is a good choice.
Online Remote Backup Services:
High speed internet connections have made remote backup services a viable
option for many small businesses. Customers pay a monthly fee based on the amount of data
they need to backup. Prices vary, but expect to pay between $25 and $70 per
month to backup 10-40GB of data. The customer downloads and installs the backup
software on a PC or server, and configures it to upload the data to a remote
server. Once set up, the software will automatically backup on a regular
schedule with no user input required. It sounds ideal, but there are a few
aspects which you have to consider before taking this route. Remote backups are
expensive when you consider you're paying $25-$70 per month or more. Many
customers who use this service set it up once and never test to see if and how
it works, so when they go to restore data they may have problems. These services
depend on a live internet connection. If you're internet is down for whatever
reason, you can't restore your data. You're also relying on the integrity and
security of the remote backup provider. If their servers go down or they go out
of business (it happens), you may be out of business. Some remote backup
providers do not actually host the backup servers, they are merely resellers, so
you need to check to see if the vendor actually has the servers onsite and what
kind of facilities they have.
Combination Backups:
Many businesses combine backup methods to gain fault-tolerance and
redundancy. For instance, they may backup to an external USB drive but also copy
vital data to a CD-R to store offsite. Or they may backup to internal hard disks
and a tape drive or a remote backup service for extra security. There are many
different options and possible combinations, depending on the size of your
business, your technology budget and your data recover needs.
Backup Software and Restoring Data:
There are two parts to designing a backup strategy. One is the backup
hardware (tape, disks, etc.) and the other is the software that makes the backup
work. Some of the above devices come with backup software included, or you can
use NTBackup, which is included with Windows. Businesses with more complex
backup needs may need to purchase third party software which can cost $500-$1,000
or more. If you are the person in charge of the backups, make sure you choose
software that you know how to use. Some backup programs require advanced
technical knowledge.
Just as there are two components to a backup system (hardware
and software), there are two pieces to the backup process: backing up data and
restoring it. Backed up data is of no value if you can't restore it. Whatever
backup type you choose, make sure you test it by trying to restore data so you
can see if the backups are actually working, and so you know how to do it in a
crunch. If you have scheduled automatic backups, don't just assume they're
working. Things can go awry with scheduled computer tasks for many different
reasons. You need to
occasionally check the event logs or the backup files themselves to verify all is
well.
So What Backup System is Best For Me?
Home users with a few Word documents and saved e-mail:
Floppy/Zip disks or burning to CD-R will suffice. If you have lots of photos
or music files, get an external USB hard drive.
SOHO with a peer-to-peer network: External USB or NAS hard drives
and/or online remote backup. SMB (small to medium business) with client-server
network: High speed tape drives and/or online remote backup.
Hopefully you now have a better understanding of what's involved
in safe guarding your data. Deciding among backup devices, backup software and
backup strategies can be confusing, so don't hesitate to contact
us if you have any questions The most important thing to do if you don't
have a backup system is to get one now before it's too
late.
(Back
Up)
Many people are told that in order to fix their computer they
need to reinstall the operating system (OS). What exactly does this mean, and
what's the easiest way to do it? Usually you need to reinstall the OS if the
system files or registry are corrupted beyond repair, causing the computer to
become un-bootable or unstable. This may be caused by a bad software install or
uninstall, poorly written software, virus or spyware infections, or any number
of computer calamities. Sometimes the cause of the problem is never really
known, it's just more time and cost effective to wipe out the old OS and start
fresh rather than spend hours trying to diagnose and repair it. The idea is to
replace the current, corrupted OS with a new, clean version and all your
problems are solved. Note that none of these methods will help in the case
of defective hardware. If you have bad memory, a failing hard drive or a
defective motherboard, you must diagnose and fix these problems first. There are two basic reinstallation methods, each with
advantages and disadvantages:
In-Place Install:
Also known as an overlay install.
Depending on the version of the OS, it usually involves inserting the OS CD
in the drive and following the prompts. This method overwrites the existing
OS installation but leaves your data files and applications untouched
(usually). The advantage of an in-place install is that you don't have to
backup your data (although you should), format the hard drive, and then
reinstall everything from scratch. Depending on the OS, it can be relatively
easy for the average user to perform. The disadvantage of the in-place
install is that it often doesn't solve the problem, especially in the case
of virus or spyware infections. After spending several hours you are then
back where you started, whereas if you had done a clean install, you would
be finished. Clean Install:
A clean install means backing up all
your data, formatting the hard drive, installing the OS on the blank,
formatted hard drive, and reinstalling all your device drivers, applications
and data. This involves more work than the first method but guarantees a
successful outcome, since all vestiges of the previous installation are
wiped out. Older versions of Windows, such as Windows 95, 98 and Millennium
need to have this done every year or two with heavy use to keep them stable
and fast running. Windows NT, 2000 and XP are not as susceptible to this old
age slow down and can keep running for much longer without reinstalling,
assuming they are maintained in good order. A clean install is usually a job
for a professional, as there is the potential for losing all your data
permanently as well as other pitfalls.
(Back
Up)
Upgrading Your
Operating System
Microsoft sells upgrade versions of Windows
that allow you to simply pop the new OS CD in the drive while Windows is running
and follow the prompts to perform an in-place upgrade of your OS. In a perfect
world, all your data, programs, and settings are carried over to the new OS.
Because it's easy to do, many people try the in-place upgrade, only to be disappointed
with the outcome. The reason this scenario may not work out as advertised
is that problems with the
old OS are often carried over to the new OS and sometimes made worse. Programs that worked before may not work now, and of course any existing
virus/spyware
problems or hardware issues will remain. The best course of action is
to backup your data, record all your settings, format the hard drive and do a
clean install of the new OS upgrade on the formatted hard drive. After you
restore all your programs and data, you'll have a fresh start with a new OS
running on a like-new PC and life will be good. Once again, this is usually a
job for a professional, due to the many bad things that can happen if one makes
a mistake. This assumes, of course, that
your old PC is up to running the new OS. If you're upgrading to Windows XP Home
or Professional, don't even think about it unless you have at the minimum an
800 Mhz Pentium III or equivalent processor, 512MB memory and a 40GB hard drive
with plenty of free space.
(Back
Up)
Save Your Files In Your
"My Documents" Folder
Windows, by default, saves all documents including MS Office files,
music, pictures, email, address books, etc. in either the My Documents
folder or in another folder under your user profile. These folders are
protected from change in case you have to restore your computer to a
previous state using the System Restore utility. If you have to roll
your PC back in time to a previous state because some program or driver
has corrupted Windows, all your files stored under your user profile
(including My Documents) will remain untouched. Some people, however,
store vital data files outside of their user profile. For example, they
may create a folder called Financial Data and save it to the location
C:\Financial Data. They add files to this folder and modify them daily.
They then download a program that corrupts Windows. To fix the problem,
they run System Restore to roll their computer back to the date prior to
the bad software install. Now everything works fine again, but they go
into the folder named Financial Data and all of the changes made since
the bad program was installed are gone. Why? Because Windows rolled
everything on the computer that was not stored in that person's user
profile back to the date of the system restore. So unless this person
has a good current backup, they have just lost data. They could undo the
system restore to get the data back, but then they would also restore
the program that caused all the trouble in the first place. Bottom line:
Don't store data outside of your user profile.
(Back
Up)
Computer
Security:
Why You Should Care And What
You Can Do
Many home users and a surprising number of
businesses have a very laissez-faire approach towards protecting the security of
their computers and the data on them. This may stem from a lack of knowledge
about security threats, a "it can't happen to me" attitude, or knowing there is a potential problem but not wanting to spend the time or the
money to fix it. There are two things everyone should know about computer
security threats: They are a real and present danger, and with a minimum
investment one can make a big difference in minimizing these threats.
The following are some basic things you can do to
protect yourself and your business. Keep in mind that not all of these steps may
apply to your situation. There is no guaranteed way to insure the security
of computer data. Be aware that any changes you make to your system can have
unintended consequences. The Onsite PC Doctor is not responsible for any
problems that may occur as a result of any actions you take based on the information
on this web site. Consult with the Doctor if you have questions about applying
security changes to your system.
Install a Firewall: A firewall will go a long way
towards protecting your computer and network from attacks
originating on the internet. These assaults can range from individual
hackers trying to break into your PC and steal data or store illegal files
(pirated software, pornography, etc.) on your hard drive to worm attacks that install programs that
monitor your keystrokes or turn your machine into a replicating zombie that
sends hundreds or thousands of trojan/virus programs to other computers.
There's two types of firewalls: a hardware device or software that installs
on your computer. A hardware firewall can be a stand-alone device or part of
a router. Many home networks use a router with a built in
firewall which blocks incoming attacks and provides adequate protection for
$60-$80. Small businesses should spend $200-$500 for a more robust
firewall/router that inspects incoming and outgoing packets and blocks those
that are suspicious. Many stand-alone computers are
connected directly to a cable or DSL modem with no firewall. If this is you,
you're an accident waiting to happen. Install some firewall software right
away, or buy a router for $60-$80 and install it between your modem
and your PC. If you run Windows XP, make sure the built-in firewall is
enabled. Be advised that some software firewalls can
cause problems with e-mail connectivity and file and print sharing on
networks, and can be confusing for the average user to configure.
Require Passwords: If your computer boots up without
requiring a password to logon, then anyone sitting down at your PC can
access all your files. If you're the only one in your home or office, that
may seem like enough of an excuse to forego the minor hassle of typing in a
password. But passwords don't just stop physical entry to your machine. If
you don't have a firewall or a hacker or trojan gets through the firewall (it happens)
or someone hacks your wireless network (more on that next), then password
protection provides another level of protection that the attacker has to
overcome to get into your machine. So setup your computer to require a logon
password. If other people use your machine, make them logon under their own user name
and password. By the way, if you're still using Windows 95, 98 or Me, you
have no password protection, even if you set them up with one. The passwords
in those versions of Windows are easily bypassed. Windows NT, 2000 and XP
have strong password protection. Use it.
Encrypt Wireless Networks: Everybody's putting in
wireless networks. They're easy to setup and convenient to use. They are
also gaping security holes. Most people don't bother with enabling
encryption on their network, just like they don't bother to use logon passwords.
Anybody with a wireless card on their laptop can access an unencrypted
wireless network with no effort and use it to either get a free internet connection or hack
into the computers attached to that wireless network. Secure your wireless
network with the strongest encryption available. This is usually 128 bit WEP
or WPA. For encryption to work, all the wireless devices on the network must
be able to use the same encryption protocol. Older wireless devices may not
be able to use 128 bit WEP or WPA. WEP encryption is relatively easy to
crack compared to WPA, so make sure you use password protection on all
computers as an added precaution. If you live in a remote area you may be
able to get by without wireless encryption. If you live in a more densely
populated neighborhood there are probably several other wireless networks
within range of yours. You can see for yourself with a laptop and a wireless
card. Open the wireless card configuration software. Usually there is an
option to view available wireless networks. From there you can see all the
networks in your area and their encryption status. The unencrypted ones can
usually be accessed with a just click of the mouse.
Share Files Sparingly: If you share files on your
network, resist the temptation to share the entire root drive (the C drive
on Windows) for the sake of convenience. Just share the directories you need to access, like My
Documents. Sharing the root drive makes it easier for hackers to access and
take control of the operating system.
Don't Make Every User an Administrator: Consider
assigning limited user rights to some users. If you have children or
teenagers logging on to your PC with full administrator rights, they can do
anything they want, including downloading files, installing/uninstalling
software/hardware, deleting system files and having full access to any
documents on your PC or network. Office workers who do word processing,
e-mail and internet browsing may not need anything more than limited user
rights to get their work done. By not making these users administrators you
close a lot of security holes and prevent viruses and trojans from running. The downside to this is that some programs
won't run unless the user is an administrator, and some users won't go along
with the downgrading of their privileges. Upgrade Your Operating System and Browser: Windows
Vista is a major security upgrade over Windows XP. If you buy a new computer
now it will come with Vista
pre-installed. Internet Explorer 7.0 or
Mozilla Firefox 2.0 (both free
downloads) are more secure web browsers than Internet Explorer 6. Some
people have switched over to the Mac or Linux operating systems to get
away from the security glitches endemic to Windows. While this does give
one a security upgrade, there are other costs to consider. With Macs you
pay more
for the hardware. Linux is free in theory, but most Linux users pay for an
installation package. With both operating systems there is the learning
curve (a steep one for Linux) and software/hardware compatibility
issues. As the Mac and Linux OS become more popular, hackers are
focusing their attention on them.
(Back
Up)
Three Basic Rules For
Maintaining Your Sanity
If you want to keep your own health and the health of your
computers from declining, follow these simple rules:
1. Backup, Backup, Backup
Nobody ever thinks their hard drive will die. Or it might
die someday, but they'll get around to backing it up someday before it
dies. It never ceases to amaze the Doctor when a client whose recently expired hard drive
containing crucial data stares blankly when asked,
"You do have a backup, don't you?" The problem with backups is that
they are time consuming and overly complex for the average user. The Onsite PC
Doctor can help you design easy to use backup systems that fit your needs
whether it's a stand alone PC or a client/server network.
2. If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It
The computer industry thrives on getting people to believe that
they need to spend time and money upgrading their hardware and software on a
regular basis, even if their current configuration is working just fine. As a
result, many perfectly good systems are trashed and many hours wasted in the
name staying current. If your present setup is working well and allowing you to
be productive and secure, think long and hard before making any changes. Check the
company's web site for any problems related to a specific upgrade. If you go for
the upgrade, do a backup first. The Onsite PC Doctor can discuss the pros and
cons of upgrading your system with regards to your business needs and help
you make an informed decision.
3. Stay Current With Virus Protection and Security Patches
Your hard drive may never die and you may never crash your
system with a bad upgrade, but if you don't follow rule number three, you will
eventually suffer a virus or hacker attack that could leave your computer
useless and your data stolen or gone. So install anti-virus software and keep it current with automatic
updates. Install a firewall. Download and install security patches relevant to your situation. Backup your
system before installing patches, hot fixes and service packs. Call the Onsite PC Doctor if you have questions about
security patch and service pack installation and compatibility for your PC or network.
(Back Up)
|
