Many years ago, I got my first website-building experience when I volunteered to design and launch a politically oriented website for a friend.  Even though I had plenty of previous computer experience, there was a steep learning curve involved, as I took self-taught...

Before you buy that fancy new laser printer, consider whether or not you want every page that you print to be traceable back to its origin.  Such is the case with many laser printers, copiers and other office machines now made by Xerox, Canon, Brother, Dell, Epson,...

In spite of the many security dangers lurking in every corner, I still use a computer to buy and sell things on the Internet.  I give my name, address, telephone and credit card numbers to companies such as eBay, Paypal and Amazon.  There are other company websites...

Among tools used by the Internet bad guys, none is more treasured than a collection of programs and computer code known as the rootkit.  If they can sneak a rootkit into your computer, as part of a virus, email attachment or piece of spyware, they can invisibly gain...

Happy Thanksgiving, and Happy Computer Security Day.  While banks and public institutions probably won’t close in its honor, November 30 will mark the 18th annual observance of Computer Security Day (CSD). Most computer users don’t give much daily thought to the issue...

New computer buyers need to beware of a disturbing trend among major manufacturers who fail to include a CD copy of the Windows operating system with the new computer.  In an effort to save a few pennies per computer, manufacturers are putting customers in a bad...

If certain government big shots and computer software companies get their way, the future of computing will be one of endless dependence upon the Internet.  End users will no longer own computers that have their own hard drives, programs, operating systems, or any...

Family health concerns have recently taken me on a number of different misadventures involving local physicians, hospitals, and their computer systems.  Yesterday, I had yet another opportunity to witness how our dependence on imperfect computers hinders our ability...

“High speed” or “broadband” Internet service -- two interchangeable terms that describe something (most folks aren’t sure exactly what) that Internet users, persuaded by persistent advertising, have become convinced they need.  When it comes to the Internet,...

After setting up and "locking down" a computer for Internet security, one of the last things I do before returning a computer to its owner is make sure that it has connectivity to the Internet Service Provider (ISP) of their choice. Having dealt with many different...

I recently had the opportunity to perform some basic computer forensic analysis for some clients who wanted to know if their computers had been used for "illicit" purposes.  One client, the owner of a popular hairdressing salon, needed to know if her employees were...

There you are, dumbfounded, staring at the infamous Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSOD).  You know the screen: the one with the Microsoft-blue background, and the cryptic message followed by indecipherable strings of numbers and letters.  You're stuck.  Your computer...

All well built modern computer networks, whether in the small home office or gigantic corporation, have at their hearts two essential components: a router to direct network traffic, and a firewall to restrict unwanted contact with the outside world. A router does what...

In securing the computers of the small or home office, it is important to consider the physical security of the machines themselves, as there are many threats that do not come from the Internet, but, rather, come from someone having physical access. If there is any...

Continuing our examination of the security needs of the small office, let's look at configuring the existing security options that are built into the operating system (OS) and programs that you use. Whether you use a Microsoft Windows operating system, Apple OS X, or...

Last week, we looked at some of the network and Internet security needs of the small office/home office (SOHO, in computer business lingo).  Whether you have one employee, or ten thousand, you need to have a formal security policy as part of your overall security...

The security needs of the individual Internet user, and those who work in small or home offices, often overlap in many areas.  Just as there are many different ways to get to Chicago, there are many different ways to set up small computer networks.  Methods to provide...

To computer system administrators around the world, the second Tuesday of each month has become known as "Patch Tuesday."  That's because it's the day that Microsoft releases it's latest "patches" for the Windows operating system, and other Microsoft products.  Simply...

I recently worked for a lady who was so frustrated with her computer's performance that she was ready to throw it away and buy something new.  I looked at her, looked at her computer and replied, "Will you tell me which dumpster you're going to use, so I can dive in...

It's almost impossible to communicate the depths of any subject regarding computers and the Internet in short, weekly newspaper columns.  I can usually only touch on the highlights of a given subject, provide a few tips and tricks, and leave it at that.  Consequently,...