Holiday tips for computer security

By Rick Castellini Special to PRIME Every year for the last 7 or 8 years, I bring up a version of this tip to help save you time and money during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years visiting season. Please follow the advice. I can guarantee that it will save you and your computer lots of grief. With all the traveling done during the holidays, your computer is bound to be taken hostage by friends and family wanting to check their email or play a game or two. Unlike the TV, a computer can be victimized, unintentionally, by all this attention. When everyone returns home, you may not recognize your computer or have problems with the way it runs. If you like the way your computer is running currently, set a few ground rules for the use of your computer (and please follow the same rules if you are the one doing the borrowing of a loved ones precious PC). In no particular order, here they are the rules I recommend you post near your computer:: Don't add or subtract any programs from the computer without permission first. Don't 'fix' anything unless asked by the owner. Don't wander into the Control Panel and change display, sound, or other settings. Leave the desktop icons and wallpaper alone. If you set up an email account in Outlook, Outlook Express, etc. for checking during the holidays, remove the account and any email you downloaded before leaving for home. Respect the owner's way of handling computing tasks. Although possibly different from yours, they are happy and comfortable with their methods. If you create any new documents, either print them and delete the files or copy them to a disk and delete them from the computer. Do not download free music or movies, ring tones, free games, screen savers, wallpaper or other computer freebies on your host's computer. Because constant monitoring of your guest's Internet browsing is not possible. I highly recommend downloading and installing Mozilla Firefox (mozilla.com) or Google Chrome (google.com/chrome). Firefox and Chrome are alternative browsers that actually help protect your computer from many of the spyware attacks so common in today's Internet world. They DO NOT take the place of your normal security software, but help enhance your security. I currently recommend that computer users with Windows XP use the free Avast Antivirus (avast.com). If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 7, I like the free offering from Microsoft called Security Essentials (microsoft.com/security-essentials). If you are the one vacationing, remember to follow the same rules listed above when you are working on someone else's computer. Enforcing these simple rules on your computer during the holidays will save you time and money, I guarantee it. Happy Holidays! Rick Castellini is an author, computer consultant, and hosts a computer radio show from Colorado. Visit his web site at www.HelpMeRick.com for new tips every week and sign up for his free weekly email newsletter. You can also follow Rick on Twitter at twitter.com/helpmerick.