You’re Allowed To Say NO

• Please, Mummy/Daddy, I need to do my homework …

• Mummy/Daddy, can I play games on the computer, ple-e-e-ase?

• Hey Mum/Dad, can I just check a couple of sites on the Net for my assignment?

• Mum/Dad, you don’t mind if I download these photos from the camera?

• Beguiling creatures.

• Reasonable requests.

Why not?

You don’t need the computer just now.

Let your sensitive hip-pocket-nerve help your resolve:

Removal of a persistent virus problem from a PC starts at $100.

Removal of a virus and reinstallation of Windows XP starts at $250.

Next, on a scale of 1 to 10, rate the importance of your data and security on your computer.

The higher the rating, the more respect you will have for …

The rossfix Ten Commandments of the Prime Computer

1. Without exception, the computer that contains the heart of your business or your work should only be used by you. (‘you’ may include a totally trusted co-owner)

2. If a problem occurs, especially associated with the Internet or eMail, sit on your hands and do nothing until you have given the problem a great deal of thought.

3. Antivirus software is vital - upgrading daily

4. Do NOT accept the offerings of internet sites (URLs) to 'improve' or change any settings - you like it the way it is, thankyou

5. Check your firewall and auto update settings - these may be changed when you visit some sites - see Microsoft Genuine Validation

6. Never open an attachment directly. Always save the attachment to your hard drive and virus check it before opening it

7. Do NOT leave Internet Explorer running in the background. By all means multi-task, flicking from one application to another, but remember 'Use it and when done, Close it' is the best motto for all software. You may choose to leave Outlook Express running in the background all the time and this can be OK.

8. Do not use peer to peer download programs and avoid music and porn sites

9. Backup to a pen drive every day and keep the pen drive with you

10. Review your backup protocols and archive old data

Cost = money for repairs

Cost = time lost

Cost = anxiety and stress

• Think of the cost to your work, to your business, if vital files disappear.
  It happens.

• Think of the cost to your work, to your business, of a virus infection.
  It happens.

Recommended Antivirus Software

• Avast! (free home version) - this is the one I prefer (November 2010)

• AVG Free (make sure you get the free version, not the one they charge for)

Children aged from 6 to 60 can impress us with their apparent computer skills.

”She/He really knows what he’s doing.”
Does she or he? Really?

Remember, the less YOU know, the more skilled they appear to be.

And never forget the con artist / bulldust factor.

So, you think you ‘can’t afford’ a second computer for the kids to use for games, homework, Internet surfing and experimenting?

You can’t rely on “Just this once,” or, “It won’t happen to me.”

So, look at the above and think again. Often, a second computer is the only option.