Easy to Understand Computer Tips

Anyone can be a computer genius. It only requires a couple qualities. One is dedication. Learning about computers has to be the most fun thing to do in your life. It is not true but it’s been said (by my ex) that all computer geeks are bachelors because they are married to their computers. You get the idea. Another quality is a natural ability to figure things out. To be recognized by people as an expert you have to exude self-confidence.

If you’re all that, then you’re ready to become a computer genius. It’s easy. As far as dedication goes, it means you will be learning while others are wondering. The answers are everywhere. Tinker with whatever equipment you have. The tinkering generates questions and you learn better when you are looking for answers. When you try to figure things out it sets goals for yourself that you can achieve. Then, when you read, search for answers, or ask questions you get a better understanding of what you find.

You should read everything you can find about things you are interested in. If you’re not interested you’re wasting the time you spend reading. Finding reading material is simple. In a minute we’ll cover searches but books can be useful too. Libraries are an affordable resource but you should visit several of them. Some are better at getting current material than others. Check the copyright dates to make sure you’re learning from the most current books.

Searching the internet will answer any question. Not true, you say. It is common for people to search for answers and not find them because there is a trick to using search engines. When your searches aren’t turning up the answer you’re looking for try different keywords or the way you use them. The order of your keywords can effect which pages come up first where you can find them. The page you are looking for may have used synonyms to the words you are using. Read internet articles on using search engines so you understand the use of keywords, nouns, phrases, punctuation, and Boolean because internet searches are a very important part of understanding computing.

Asking questions is an important part of learning and solving problems. If you have a problem, chances are someone else has already had it. Join online news and specialty discussion groups. You will learn the common problems people are having. Use multiple groups. It is very common for one group to be struggling with a problem or even come up with the wrong solution when another group or you yourself have learned the correct solution. You will seldom even have to post a question because your searches will turn up the question that someone else has already asked.

If you are looking at someone else’s computer there are certain questions you should always ask them. What was the last thing you did before you noticed the problem? Can you describe exactly what the problem is? What have you done to try to fix it? Depending on the situation you may have to ask questions about the age of the computer or what it has in it.

If you don’t have the natural ability to figure things out for yourself then figure out a different career path. It is frequently said that every problem is unique. Other solutions are clues or guides for solving your current problem. The usefulness of that saying is that it keeps you from assuming you already know the answer. Every problem is a puzzle. You need to figure out the pieces so you can ask the right questions. This is the one skill you have to already possess. You can’t learn it. I would never encourage anyone to try to learn mechanical reasoning. If you’re already good at it then you can study it to improve.

To succeed at anything you need to show self confidence. People are gullible. They may not want to believe what you tell them but they can’t help it. If someone were to tell you, “I’m not very good at this but I’ll see what I can do”, you would not have confidence in them even if they succeeded. On the other hand, if they said, “If I can’t fix this no one can”, you would believe they knew what they were doing even if they failed. Self confidence sells your ability and that is your most valued product.

This is the how-to. It’s up to you now. When people start believing in your genius, your self-confidence will have been self fulfilling.

When malware or viruses are on your computer, stop shopping, banking, and all activities that involve user names, passwords, or other sensitive information. Take notes on what you have done recently, what you know about the problem (like the name of the virus or malware reported by your system security), and what you do to solve the problem. Malware and viruses can send your personal information to identity thieves or use them for other purposes.

Always be sure that your security software is up-to-date and make sure it hasn’t been disabled, then use it to scan your computer. The scan will frequently clean your computer or offer you options on how you wish to clean it. Delete or quarantine everything the program identifies as a problem. Write down the identified name s of anything that can’t be deleted and search online for a solution. Restart your computer to make sure the changes take effect.

If your computer is covered by a warranty that offers free tech support, contact the manufacturer. First, be sure you know the model and serial number of your computer, any software you’ve installed, and a description of the problem. Notes you have taken will help you explain the problem to the technician. If the problem persists professional help is recommended but experienced help is better because it’s free if you just improve your internet search skills.

If you want professional help and your computer isn’t covered by a warranty, or if you want help with security software that isn’t doing the job properly, you will need to pay for technical support. Many companies offer tech support over the phone, online, at their store, or in your home. Telephone or online help generally are the least expensive ways to access support services but you may have to do some of the work yourself. Taking your computer in for service is usually less expensive than having a technician or repair person to come to your home.

Once your computer problem is corrected, you should think about how malware or virus could have infected your computer, and how you could avoid it in the future.
Also, explain safe computing to anyone else who uses your computer. Tell them that some online activity can put a computer at risk, and share what you’ve learned about safer computing.

Until the government gets serious about fighting identity theft and other internet crimes it is up to you to report those crimes to all the following agencies:

Hacking or a Computer Virus

Alert the appropriate authorities by contacting:

Report it to your ISP and the hacker’s ISP. An ISP’s email address SHOULD be on its website.

The FBI at http://www.ic3.gov. To fight computer criminals, they need to hear from you.

Internet Fraud

If you get scammed on an Internet auction, online shopping, or any other way, report it to the Federal Trade Commission, at ftc.gov. http://ftc.gov/

Deceptive Spam

You should forward deceptive spam, including email phishing, to spam@uce.gov. <mailto:spam@uce.gov> Be sure to include the full header of the email, including all routing information. You should also report phishing email to reportphishing@antiphishing.org. <mailto:reportphishing@antiphishing.org>

Divulged Personal Information

If you believe you have mistakenly given your personal information to a fraudster, file a complaint at ftc.gov, and then visit the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft website at ftc.gov/idtheft to learn how to minimize your risk of damage from a potential theft of your identity.

Parents

Parents sometimes can feel outpaced by their technologically savvy kids. Technology aside, there are lessons that parents can teach to help kids stay safer as they socialize online. Most ISPs provide parental controls, or you can buy separate software. But no software can substitute for parental supervision. Talk to your kids about safe computing practices, as well as the things they’re seeing and doing online.

Social Networking Sites

Many adults, teens, and tweens use social networking sites to exchange information about themselves, share pictures and videos, and use blogs and private messaging to communicate with friends, others who share interests, and sometimes even the world-at-large. Here are some tips for parents who want their kids to use these sites safely:

Use privacy settings to restrict who can access and post on your child’s website. Some social networking sites have strong privacy settings. Show your child how to use these settings to limit who can view their online profile, and explain to them why this is important.

Here are some of the ways you can avoid being a victim of phishing scams:

Email, text, or pop-up message that ask for personal or financial information is likely an attempt at phishing. Don’t click on links in email messages. If you want to go to a bank or business’s website, type the web addresses yourself.

Don’t respond to messages by email, text, pop-up or phone that ask you to call their phone number to update your account or personal information to access a prize or refund. If you need to reach an organization, call the number on your billing statement, or use the telephone directory.

Identity thieves can steal identities from large numbers of people by hacking into huge businesses or government agencies. While the some businesses on the Internet may require you to share some personal information, you can share only with organizations you know and trust. If you give out personal information, first find out how it’s going to be used and protected.

When shopping online, don’t provide personal or financial information through a website until you have checked that the site is secure like a website URL that begins "https://" (the "s" represents a "secure" web-page). Unfortunately, some scammers have faked security web-pages. Also, some sites that took appropriate security precautions still get hacked.

Be sure to always read privacy policies. They SHOULD explain what information is collected, how it is used, and with what other companies it is shared. Try to find out what security measures are taken to protect your information. If you don’t see a privacy policy, can’t understand it, or have any doubts consider doing business with someone else.