CSI - News You Can Use!
Windows XP Home vs.
Windows XP Pro for the office
Windows XP Home vs. Windows XP Pro for the office
Yes, there is a difference. If you have a server, the entire logon process can
be streamlined and with better
security, when using Window XP Pro. XP Pro allows for settings to be “kept
better” and not “lost” as much due to other changes.
Having Windows XP Pro also will allow you to “remote desktop” into your
office PC from home, very easily. When you do use this feature, your desktop at
the office will go “black” - so no one sees what you’re doing; and, it’s
as if you were sitting at your office desk. All of your programs and network
access are available to you. You can even setup to print either at home or at
the office (and have documents waiting for you when you get in).
While XP Home is certainly fine for at home, it is not the operating system of
choice for an office environment.
Also, keep in mind....when you purchase a new PC (from Dell, for example) if you
upgrade from Windows XP Home to Windows XP Pro at the time of new purchase, the
cost is about $90 more. If you upgrade later, it’s about $200.
Backup,
backup, backup
Yes, we’ve talked about backups before. But we seem to be getting calls more
and more frequently 
for
corrupt data and bad hard drives. AND, you’ve guessed it, no backups!
How often should you back up critical data? Easy. How long can you afford to be
down? How much data do you / can you re-enter or re-create? Consider how much
time - and money - it takes to re-create data, and then decide how frequently
you should back up important (information you NEED to run your business) data.
As a general rule, any time you update or make any type of changes to your data
on your computer, back it up.
Ensure that all staff is saving data to your server and that the server is
backing up properly. Rotate the (tape) media being used. No server?
Then make sure each person is backing up data on their own C: drive to CD OR
floppy OR memory stick. ...Are you thinking what I’m thinking....now you’re
leaving the future of YOUR business in the hands of someone else....and you’re
asking others to make copies of YOUR data. Perhaps time to consider a server
(yes, expensive, but it’s all relative).
Consider regularly scheduled monthly appointments to ensure that your backups
are begin run, and being run correctly.
Top 10 Tips to Keep Your Computer Virus-Free
10. Use common sense. It's always better to err on the side of safety. If you're unsure about an attachment, delete it. Especially if it's from a source you don't recognise. If there are tempting animations on a site that look highly unprofessional, don't download them.
9. Scan floppies before using them. This is always important, but especially if you are using the disk to carry information between one computer and another. You could easily pick up a virus from an insecure network and introduce it into your system. Running a virus scan before launching any of the programs on the disk will prevent infection.
8. Don't share floppies. Even a well-meaning friend may unknowingly pass along a virus, Trojan horse, or worm. Label your floppies clearly so you know they're yours and don't loan them out. If a friend passes you a foreign floppy, suggest an alternative method of file sharing.
7. Don't boot from a floppy disk. Floppies are one of the most common ways viruses are transmitted. If you are using a floppy while working on your computer, remove it when you shut the machine off or the computer will automatically try to boot from the floppy, perhaps launching any viruses on the disk.
6. Don't download programs from the Web. Unreliable sources such as Internet newsgroups or Web sites that you haven't heard of may be willing providers of viruses for your computer. Avoid downloading files you can't be sure are safe. This includes freeware, screensavers, games, and any other executable program - any files with an ".exe" or ".com" extension, such as "coolgame.exe." Check to see if the site has anti-virus software running on their side. If you do have to download from the Internet, be sure to scan each program before running it. Save all downloads to one folder, then run virus checks on everything in the folder before using it.
5. Update your anti-virus software frequently. An anti-virus program is only as good as the frequency with which it is updated. New viruses, worms, and Trojan horses are born daily, and variations of them can slip by software that is not current. Norton AntiVirus™ has a feature that searches for new virus definitions every time you go online, so you are always up to date.
4. Get immediate protection. Configure your anti-virus software to boot automatically on start-up and run at all times. This will provide you back-up protection in case you forget to scan an attachment, or decide not to. And in case you forget to boot up your anti-virus software, configuring it to start by itself will ensure you get immediate protection anyway.
3. Scan all incoming email attachments. Be sure to run each attachment you plan to open through the anti-virus check. Do this even if you recognise and trust the sender; malicious code, like Trojan horses, can slip into your system by appearing to be from a friendly source.
2. Don't automatically open attachments. Be sure your email program doesn't automatically download attachments. This will ensure that you can examine and scan attachments before they run. Refer to your email program's safety options or preferences menu for instructions.
1. Install reliable anti-virus software. Anti-virus software scans files regularly for unusual changes in file size, programs that match the software's database of known viruses, suspicious email attachments, and other warning signs. It's the most important step you can take towards keeping your computer clean of viruses. Norton AntiVirus™ is the world's leading anti-virus software. It runs continuously in the background of your computer, providing constant protection from viruses, Trojan horses, worms, and other malicious code. To stay up-to-date on the latest online threats, Norton AntiVirus™ automatically updates its virus definitions whenever you're online.
Just in Case. . .
In case a virus finds its way to your computer, due to carelessness, an
accident, or anti-virus software that hasn't been updated since you got it for
your birthday last year, at least be prepared. Use software such as Norton
Ghost™ to create a backup copy of your computer's hard drive. This way you
can revert to the clean, undamaged version of your computer.
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