Have you been scammed online? Do you use your computer for both personal use and business? What would happen if your computer totally died, would you be able to function without it? No idea then you need to read the whole book to get the answers to these questions. Download your copy from www.boysbach.com

1. PC Safety and Security Manual
A Summary
© 2007 Rob Clement
all rights reserved
www.boysbach.com
with thanks to
www.powerbacks.com
for the background

2. Introduction
Beware you can lose your data sooner
than you think.
One lightning strike could be a catastrophe
for you.
A computer is “cheap” and easily replaced.
The information may be irreplaceable.

3. What if I lost my computer -
permanently?
Challenge:
Switch off your computer/s for a day.
Keep the machine turned off
See what you need to have right now.
How much is that information worth?

4. What if I lost my computer -
permanently? II
Options are to use the Internet at
Cyber cafe or library.
What if you had your PC stolen or it
was destroyed?

5. Keep Your Computer Safe.
Place your computer in a secure place.
Check out your security video.
Avoid high-visibility locations.

6. Keep Your Computer Safe. II
Is your power supply safe?
Consider Surge protection
Battery backup
Generator

7. Keep Your Computer Safe. III
Drinks and floods
Get a new keyboard don't fix it
Portables and liquids do not mix.
Keep your desktop off the floor.

8. Keep Your Computer Safe. IV
Cleaning sprays can be deadly
Fires and explosions happen
keep your computer data safe.

9. Traveling With Your Portable
Backup data twice before traveling.
One backup with you
One backup leave behind
Don't lose it
Don't have it stolen.

10. Protect Your Passwords.
If you use a computer
at the coffee shop or Cyber cafe
Log off e-mail at the end.
Log off your bank account at the end.

11. Protect Your Passwords. II
Protect your bank and personal details
Your use of a computer at a Cyber cafe or
coffee shop could be being monitored.

12. Backup Options and Priorities
Backups are essential.
Backup to magnetic tape is best.
DVD or CD R/W discs otherwise
Check your backup from time to time.

13. Backup Options and Priorities II
Backup
Documents (My Document before Vista)
E-mails
other software's data
(e.g. The accounts package.)

14. Backup Options and Priorities III
Keep optical discs away from heat or light.
Replace optical discs if they show problem.
Keep backup away from computer.
Check the warranty on a fireproof safe.
Make a decision do not leave to chance.

15. Backup Options and Priorities IV
Keep original software discs safely.
Backup any software you downloaded.
Always rotate a number of copies of the
backup.

16. Magnets
Why are magnets so dangerous to
computers?
Answer To wipe your data from a floppy disc
or hard drive use fixed magnet. It can never
be recovered.

17. Computer Operating System
and Software Discs
Collect the boot and recovery discs for
your PC
Put them in a CD holder
If you use a portable take them with
you when traveling.

18. Your PDA Is “Part” Of Your
Computer.
Do not forget your PDA.
It is always in danger of damage or loss.
Copy all the data onto your PC often.
Do not forget to back up your telephone
numbers

19. Simple Settings on Your
Computer
Apply updates to your computer system
Turn on your firewall.
Include Vista Windows Defender.

20. Simple Settings on Your
Computer II
Set browser to maximum security.
Consider an alternative browser
Install software protection
Anti-virus
Internet Security
Evaluate the choices not just the prices

21. Simple Settings on Your
Computer III
Do not open unknown e-mail attachments.
Do not run programs, you do not know
where they came from.
Disconnect from the Internet when not
using it.

22. Simple Settings on Your
Computer IV
Think about where to locate physical
firewalls
Turn off your computer when not in use

23. Spam Is Coming.
What is Spam?
Unwanted or junk e-mail.
Beware of becoming a spammer.
Check your spam folder often or miss
important mail.

24. Spam Is Coming. II
Do not release your e-mail address to
the Internet.
Use spam blocking software.
Use multiple e-mail addresses
Get an e-mail provider who will stop
spam.

25. Adware, Spyware and Malware
What is the difference between adware,
spyware and malware?
Spyware is software that enables an
individual or company to see what web
sites you are accessing, search your
hard disc for “useful information” and
also what your account numbers and
passwords are.

26. Adware, Spyware and Malware II
Adware on the other hand will display
adverts for various types of products
and services available on the Internet.
Adware is annoying; spyware can be
catastrophic to your computer and to
you.

27. Adware, Spyware and Malware III
Malware is spyware in its worst forms,
where in the end the malware will give
all of your computer information to a
third party, mess up your web browser
settings and your Internet sites and
prevent you from using your computer
as it runs so slowly.

28. Phishing and Identity Theft
Phishing and identity theft is big
business.
Ever received an e-mail from a
reputable business or bank?
Are they real? No they are Phishing for
bank or credit card info?

29. Phishing and Identity Theft II
Identity theft someone steals your ID
and passwords and then pretend to be
you, stealing money and arranging
bank loans.
Ask for personal advice for software to
combat this

30. Computer Virus or a Cold
A computer virus is a program
(or a script)
it causes worry to the user
or harm to the computer
or both
Computer virus detection is big
business.
Beware of special days like
Friday 13th, 9/11 etc

31. Computer Virus or a Cold II
Always have anti-virus updates paid for.
Always update your anti-virus
A Trojan horse appears harmless or even
helpful
but it is harmful and may be deadly.

32. Computer Virus or a Cold III
Switch the Firewall on now.
To access the Internet without anti-
virus etc is playing Russian Roulette

33. Computer Virus or a Cold IV
Use the free service offered by
Symantec or Kaspersky to check your
computer.
Shop around and ask for advice.

34. Online Scams
Do not trust everyone on the Internet.
You cannot see their faces
You cannot see their body language.

35. Online Scams II
If someone appears too good to be true
they probably are.
They may appear a novice.
They may appear an expert.
They may appear to be average.

36. Online Scams III
Do not give out your personal details
Not your home address
Not your date of birth
Not your bank details
Not your credit card details

37. Online Scams IV
Check their ISP to see where they are.
Check business address
Check website pictures
Check company registration
Check list of directors
Before accepting any proposal
ALL THIS IS DUE DILIGENCE

38. Disaster recovery.
Disaster recovery is mainly for businesses
Includes non-profit organizations
Includes clubs
and special interest groups.
How do we define a disaster?
How do we recover from it?

39. Disaster recovery II.
Disaster
A disaster is an event that means you
cannot continue to run your business
and need to recover.

40. Disaster recovery III.
We take a disaster audit.
List of computers and their software.
What would happen if any of these
computers failed?
What information would you lose?
What correspondence would you lose?

41. Disaster recovery IV.
How long from the loss of that
computer would the replacement be
working with all the information that
you have on it today up to date (and
that does not allow for any information
waiting to be input)
Document all this in one place.

42. Disaster recovery V.
List all the computers you use that if
they failed today you could roll in a new
computer onto the desk and within an
hour or two everything would be fine.

43. Disaster recovery VI.
Now the hard part!
One or more computers that are vital to
your operation that you need to have
available now.
Define how many hours a week they
need to be available (24x7 or business
hours seven days a week or business
hours Monday to Friday.)
Document how long your business can
do without that computer before it hits
problems.

44. Disaster recovery V.
Finally in your disaster audit
list all telephones
list Fax machines
list modems
list routers and their connections

45. Disaster recovery VI.
Decision time
Do you have too many eggs in one basket?
Do you need to spread the computer load?
Do you need a computer to mirror another?
Back up every computer in your business
now!

46. Disaster recovery VII.
Recovery
The decisions need to made and written
down then make a plan.
Get someone as an IT resource even if
only for a disaster
Do you have a support contract for
your computers?
Get support you cannot recover a
disaster single handed.

47. Disaster recovery VIII.
Define your disaster and get a feel for
timescales and prices.
Balance between the costs of
immediate recovery and 2 to 3 days of
downtime before all services are
resumed.
Draw up of a network diagram for the
current systems and computers. Keep
this up to date.

48. Disaster recovery IX.
Keep multiple copies of the disaster
recovery plan so everyone knows what
to and who to contact.
Review and update the plan at least
every year.

49. Conclusion
Protect your computer.
Secure your computer.
Protect from virus, spam, spyware,
adware, and malware.
Make back up so you never lose data.
Make a plan for a disaster.

50. PC Safety and Security
The end of the Book
The start of protecting your computer.
www.boysbach.com
for copies of the complete manual.