There are basically three protection aspects that you should have installed and running at all times. Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware and a Firewall. There are numerous programs out there such as Norton, MacAfee, AT&T Internet Security Suite and others that all offer the protection you need with prices ranging from $39.00 per year and up. But why pay for those protections when you can get it for free… right? Contrary to popular belief, the windows firewall that came with your p.c. is more than adequate to block intruders from your computer and best of all… it’s free. Now, all you need is a quality Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware program. AVG offers a FREE program that supplies great protection from viruses & spyware and includes daily updates. I have used the combination of AVG Free and my Windows Firewall for several years now and have never had any issues. Please note that Windows XP users must have SP2 installed to use Windows Firewall. For more detailed information about installing the free version of AVG and turning Windows Firewall on, Please Click Here

Malware is software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's informed consent. The expression is a general term used by computer professionals to mean a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. Malware has become an all-inclusive term and may include viruses, ad-ware, spyware and any other annoying program that afflicts your pc. The most popular malware programs are those that disguise themselves as actual anti-virus and/or anti-spyware programs. In many cases, you will see messages that popup on your desktop telling you that your pc is infected with viruses. Your actual desktop background might be changed without your knowledge and your task manager (CTRL+ALT+DEL) will become disabled.

While some of these programs are downloaded by user request, the majority are what we call “drive-by downloads”. Simply meaning that opening a certain website can trigger a download and installation of a program without your knowledge. It is estimated that 1 in every 1000 websites are infected with these “drive-by downloads”.

If are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, I would suggest downloading and using the "Malwarebytes" program. Just look under "Top Free Programs" for a link.

A computer can be an invaluable tool for your children. My own children use the internet almost daily to look up stuff for school, get extra help with math or just to have a little fun. Having said that, one of the most important things you can do to protect your computer is to educate and monitor your child(s) computer use. I would guess that 50% of my service calls come from parents that gave their children free reign when it came to computer use, usually those children were in the 4th grade or up.

One of the biggest problems is clicking on advertisements or other areas of the website. Many online advertisements these days are made to look like they are actually a part of the website, when in fact they are not. Some of those advertisements, when clicked on, will lead to unauthorized downloads, spyware, etc... It starts very innocently, your child may hear about a cool game website from another student. They then log on when they get home, click on an advertisement thinking that it’s an awesome new game, and your computer pays the price.

The best advice is to talk to your child(ren) about internet safety and always, always inspect any website that they want to visit.

Setting up a wireless network in your home can make your life easier in more ways than you might realize. In the beginning, wireless networks were basically only for pc’s or laptops. Today, you can use a single wireless signal to connect multiple devices in your home. In my own home, we use our wireless network for a laptop, wireless printer, TIVO DVR and the kids Wii, all with one device and one signal.

A Wireless Network, in my opinion, is one of the greatest technological advancements in recent years! Convenience is the big factor with a home network. For example: let’s say that you have a total of three computers in your home. One computer has a high-speed internet connection while the other two belong to your children and do not have internet access at all. This is the case in most homes since having to run high-speed cables from room to room and purchasing additional modems can become troublesome and expensive! With a home network, all three computers can have a high-speed connection without the hassle of running wires throughout your home.

You can setup a wireless network in your home for less than $100.00 and the overall setup is not that difficult. I am a huge supporter of Linksys Products. The wireless router that I always recommend for home use is the WRT54G. This device is pretty much a plug and play system. The device comes with an installation CD that walks you through the entire process. You can find the WRT54G at Best Buy or similar electronics stores for around $60.00.

Here’s how it works. You can setup a wireless network in any home that has a high-speed internet connection that uses either a DSL modem or Cable / Satellite Modem. The wireless router, such as the Linksys WRT54G, will connect directly to your existing modem. The router will then send your high-speed internet signal across your home.

The only other equipment that you need is a wireless adapter (receiver) for any device that you want to connect wirelessly. (i.e. PC, Laptop, Wii, etc…) Most new laptops come with adapters installed internally. However, if you determine that you need an adapter for your laptop or PC, just ask a sales associate at Best Buy, Etc… They will help you determine the best adapter for your device.

Printers are a little different. If you have an older model printer, then chances are that you will not be able to connect it to your wireless network. If this is the case, you will need to purchase a new printer that has wireless capabilities. All wireless capable printers, to the best of my knowledge, have wireless adapters installed internally, so there is no need to buy additional equipment. The model that I have is the HP Officejet J6480, an excellent all-in-one printer for both office and home use. You can find this printer for around $250.00 but you can find other wireless capable printers starting at around $100.00.