Computer Maintenance &

Safety

Spring 2014

Internet Safety Keeping your computer safe

What is a computer virus? • A computer program that can copy itself to spread from

one computer to another

• Malware (malicious software) is made to damage/disable computers, and or gather personal information

What can viruses and Malware do? • Slow down your computer • Freezes the computer • Many pop-up ads • Spies on what you do on the computer • Tries to take money from you• Uses your email to send viruses/malware to

your contacts on your address book

Internet Safety Keeping your computer safe

Where do viruses come from? • Viruses are made by people to:

• Steal identities • Gain remote control of your computer • Damage computers • Gain bragging rights

How can you protect your computer from viruses/malware? • Firewall

• Anti-virus/ anti-malware software • File backup • Being aware of what to click on/download and

what not to

Internet Safety Keeping your computer safe

What is a firewall? • A firewall protects things coming into your

computer from the internet • It checks each message coming in and out

of the computer for security criteria • Most modern computers come with a

firewall already built-in and turned on • Although it is still good to make sure

• Don’t go clicking any and everything because you have a firewall- still be mind-full of potential viruses

Internet Safety Keeping your computer safe

How do I avoid getting viruses? • The most common ways that a computer gets infected is

when a person accepts what they see on the screen without reading the prompt or understanding what it is asking

• Only download from websites that you trust

• Don’t click links on suspicious websites or in email messages

• Don’t trust “Clean My PC” Programs

Internet Safety Keeping your computer safe

Using Anti-Virus Software Microsoft Security Essentials

• Anti-virus software that keeps your computer safe from malicious files and programs

• Virus definitions need to be updated because new viruses are coming out all the time

• Runs all the time and will alert you if it finds a virus

Tips

• If the icon is green, your computer is in a good state. Yellow & red are not good.

This software keeps the viruses out

Check the castle icon every day

Microsoft Security Essentials

Internet Safety Keeping your computer safe

Malware Bytes Icon

• Finds malware that other anti-virus and anti-spyware programs generally miss, including rogue security software, adware, and spyware.

CCleaner Icon

• Deletes temporary files, cookies, and download history in browsers

• Fixes errors in the Windows registry

Tip Run Malware & CCleaner every 2 weeks

Internet Safety Keeping your computer safe

Important things to know about pop-ups

What pop-ups are okay to click on?

• Adobe Reader• Adobe Flash Player• Microsoft Silverlight• Internet Explorer• Mozilla Firefox• Windows Update• Java

Do not click on ads like this

If it looks too good to be true- it most likely IS too good to be true!

Computer MaintenanceKeeping your computer working well

What are the important parts of computer maintenance? • Regularly cleaning your computer (Ccleaner)

• Managing files

• Fixing frozen programs

• Uninstalling programs

• Troubleshooting new problems

Computer MaintenanceKeeping your computer working well

Using CCleanerWhat are temporary files, cookies, etc. anyway?

•CCleaner gets rid of electronic cobwebs, junk

that builds up in your computer from use just

like dust in your house. Using it keeps your

computer streamlined and more efficient.

Ccleaner also has other options you can explore.

How to use CCleaner1. Open the Program2. Choose which option you want on the left3. Click analyze4. Click run cleaner5. You’re done!

Computer MaintenanceKeeping your computer working well

File ManagementFile management is all about how you choose to organize

your computer, where you put files, etc. but some

important points hold the same:

• Be efficient and save time for yourself

• Be consistent

• Back up your files in a safe place

• Make smart use of the cloud (the internet)

Computer MaintenanceKeeping your computer working well

Fixing frozen programs Using Task ManagerYour computer is like a brain-a million things going on at once, only some of which you control. Sometimes your computer will get stuck on something just like your own thoughts might, and task manager can fix that.

If a program freezes…1. Press ctrl+alt+delete2. Click on task manager3. Highlight the program and click end task

Computer MaintenanceKeeping your computer working well

Uninstalling a ProgramWhy should you uninstall a program?

•You don’t use it

•It slows your computer down

•It’s dangerous (viruses)

How do you uninstall a program?

1. Open control panel

2. Click on uninstall a program

3. Select the program and click uninstall

Computer MaintenanceKeeping your computer working well

TroubleshootingSo what happens if you get a different problem? This is when you

have to troubleshoot and figure it out on your own. If you can

articulate the problem, you can search for it on the internet and

find answers. Follow the who-what-when-where-why-how model.

• In what program does it happen? (Who)

• What happens?

• When does the problem occur?

• Where (in the program) does the problem happen?

• Why does the problem happen (what action causes

it)?

• How does it happen (details)?