5 Things every computer user needs to know
5 Things every Computer User needs to know
By Jeandre de Beer / Kim Komando
A good number of computer users think the answer to the tech problems they encounter is to ignore the symptoms, upgrade to fancier software or buy a new computer.
Here are five things that won’t turn you into a tech guru overnight, but they’ll keep your computer running fast, make you more productive and save you tons of frustration. Best of all, they won’t cost you a cent.
If you’re the tech support person for your family and friends, be sure to share this with them. You’ll get more work done if your mailbox doesn’t fill up with subject lines like “Do I have a virus?” or “Help! Having Wi-Fi problems!”
1. Work faster using keyboard shortcuts
The great thing about computers is that they can work much faster than you can. But telling them what to do is often a slow process. Well, there’s a fix for that.
Say you’re ready to print a document. Instead of using the mouse to move a cursor around the screen and selecting “Print” from a drop-down menu, just hit Control+P on your keyboard.
There are dozens of keyboard shortcuts like this, from pressing Ctrl+S to instantly save the file you’re working on, to pressing Ctrl+Z to undo a delete etc.
It takes a little getting used to at first, but after you try keyboard shortcuts for a while, I guarantee that your mouse will start gathering dust.
2. Protect yourself from viruses and spyware
It’s critical that you keep your security software current. New viruses are unleashed daily. If your software is out-of-date, you aren’t protected. Malware can destabilize your computer, destroy files and steal personal information.
Every computer you own should have an antivirus program, a firewall and an anti-spyware program. Another huge threat right now is security holes in Java, a programming language used by Web browsers to run interactive content.
When a vulnerable version of Java is active in a Web browser, visiting a compromised website is all it takes for crooks to sneak malware on to your computer. In most cases, you won’t even know the site is compromised until it’s too late.
To stay safe, stop using Java — or stay on top of the upgrades.
