dacs.doc electric

Welcome to the world of personal computing. What you need is to understand that properly used computers can help you in the competition for your time, money, income and resources. To do this you have to manage this tool called a personal computer. The most common personal computer in homes and offices at this time is a PC running the Windows XP operation system. To find a “fix” for your sick XP machine you need to understand the environmental situation that leads up to “ the cursor is frozen in place” problem. The dialog at a DACS Q&A session might be:

Are you the only person that uses this XP computer?
No, my kids use it to play games.

Do you use it on the Internet?
Yes, and so do my kids.

Is the XP firewall set to run?
I think so.

Do you have anti-virus software running in your machine?
Yes.

Do you keep the anti-virus software updated?
Yes, last week.

Do you have anti-spyware programs runing?
I don’t know. I only have what came with the machine.

Do you have ad-awareness programs running on your machine?
I don’t know. I only have what came with the machine.

Have you tried to put your machine into safe-mode?
How do I do that, It’s frozen?

Have you tried F8?
No, how do I do that? The computer is frozen.

This frozen cursor problem was caused by multiple computer intrusions that could have been avoided had their been sufficient concern for intrusion avoidance. Computer intrusions can take the form of unwanted advertisements, computer viruses, software defects, and security violations. The rules for optimizing intrusion avoidance are simple, follow the rules for product quality improvement.

Rules for quality improvement = QI: Rules for intrusion avoidance =IA:

Rule 1. QI: The goal is zero defects. IA: The goal is zero intrusions.
Rule 2. QI: Identify, remove, or avoid customer experienced defects. IA: Identify, remove, or avoid advertisements, viruses, and other forms of unwanted intrusions.
Rule 3. QI: Avoid defect recurrence IA: Avoid intrusion recurrence.

Following are some tools to help you walk-the-talk of intrusion avoidance:

Secure your computer and data folders with hard to break passwords. Manage your passwords.

Back up your system and your data in a manner that will protect it from theft and fire. Tools to help you do this are writeable CD’s, DVD’s, Jump Drives, and other forms of redundancy.

Properly install and manage a network firewall that allows you to control both incoming and outgoing traffic. A hardware router is recommended for hi-speed Internet connections. “Zone-Alarm” by Zone Labs is a “free to home users” software firewall that can be used on high and low speed Internet connections.

Properly install and manage a good virus detection, prevention, and removal program. Many are available for less than $50 per year.

Properly install and manage a good advertisement detection, prevention, and removal program. Ad-Aware by Lavasoft and Spybot S&D by Safer-networking.org are free for home use. Both should be used.

Be sure that all users of your PC “walk-the-talk” of intrusion avoidance.