Time for some New Year’s Resolutions computer style.
1. Keep your computer safe. Buy and keep updated your internet security programs, including antivirus (search for and download AVG FREE 9.0 from www.download.com) and firewall (search for and download the free version of ZONEALARM at www.download.com).
2. Backup your data to an external hard drive, CDs or DVDs. Keep the backups in a safe place, preferably away from your computer. I make three copies of my records: one I keep in the house for quick access, one I give to a friend who does not live in my neighborhood for semi easy access but better protection against theft or fire, and one I place in a bank safe deposit box. Nowadays you can also backup online, but it takes a LONG time to upload the data. You can also convert your paper records (bank statements, etc.) to digital format by using a scanner. Software that comes with your scanner varies but is usually fairly easy to figure out.
Backup instructions for Windows:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/security/learnmore/backup.mspx
Backup instructions for Mac:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1553
3. Practice Netiquette (Internet Etiquette). When addressing an email you will send to multiple people, protect their privacy by using BCC (Blind Carbon Copy). To do this, click on the “TO” where you type the person’s email address, and select the BCC option. Send forwarded jokes, news stories, etc., only to those people who have requested them. Trust me when I tell you that people would much rather receive an occasional casual greeting like, “We’re fine, weather’s great, wish you were here” than two or three forwarded emails each day.
4. Go Green to help our environment. Unplug appliances, including chargers, when you’re not using them. Recycle old electronics and other things, or sell them on www.guadalajara.es.craigslist.com.mx or www.olx.com.mx or www.gazelle.com. Your trash can be someone elseís treasure. Use energy saving modes on your computer. Rather than using a screen saver, have your computer blank the screen (automatically turning off the monitor) after five or ten minutes. Set your computer to power down (sleep mode) after half an hour or so. You can still restart in a second or two.
For Windows:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/learnmore/russel_02march25.mspx
For Macs:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2412
5. Learn something new. Find a free or trial software program on www.download.com that can help you do something you’ve been wanting to do, and try it out. You can always uninstall the program if you don’t like it or it doesn’t do what you want. (All programs on www.download.com are malware free.) Do a Google or Yahoo Search on a topic you would like to learn more about, such as history or basket weaving. Read, take notes, try things. If you’d like to learn how to write a blog, so that friends and family can keep up to date with you, check out www.blogger.com or www.facebook.com.
These few ideas can make your computer use safer and more productive in 2010.
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