The Do’s and Don’ts of the PC

PCs & Laptops For Dummies

Here is some good advice for things you should and shouldn't do when it comes to using a computer in a sane and useful manner.

Do pay attention to the User Account Controls (UACs) warnings. They imply that a setting change affects the entire system or could post a security risk.
Do run a firewall, and allow expected traffic to access the local network and Internet. Only deny unexpected firewall requests.
Do run PC security software, such as Windows Defender. Keep the software activated and updated.
Do install Windows updates as they arrive.
Do classify public wireless networks as Public whenever you make a connection.
Don't open the PC's case unless you first turn off and unplug the thing.
Don't run the Defrag utility on an SSD, a media card, or a thumb drive.
Don't open unexpected e-mail attachments.
Don't reply to alarmist email messages or requests for access to certain websites. When in doubt, phone the business claiming to send the message to confirm that it's legitimate.
Don't download unknown software from the Internet.
Do pay attention to the prompts when downloading software to ensure that you're not automatically installing shopping buddies, toolbars, or alternative search engines.
Do update your wireless router's settings upon initial configuration.
Do remember that "stuff" happens.
Don't blame yourself when the computer crashes.

About This Article

About the book author:

Dan Gookin has been writing about technology for 20 years. He has contributed articles to numerous high-tech magazines and written more than 90 books about personal computing technology, many of them accurate.
He combines his love of writing with his interest in technology to create books that are informative and entertaining, but not boring. Having sold more than 14 million titles translated into more than 30 languages, Dan can attest that his method of crafting computer tomes does seem to work.
Perhaps Dan’s most famous title is the original DOS For Dummies, published in 1991. It became the world’s fastest-selling computer book, at one time moving more copies per week than the New York Times number-one best seller (although, because it’s a reference book, it could not be listed on the NYT best seller list). That book spawned the entire line of For Dummies books, which remains a publishing phenomenon to this day.
Dan’s most recent titles include PCs For Dummies, 9th Edition; Buying a Computer For Dummies, 2005 Edition; Troubleshooting Your PC For Dummies; Dan Gookin’s Naked Windows XP; and Dan Gookin’s Naked Office. He publishes a free weekly computer newsletter, “Weekly Wambooli Salad,” and also maintains the vast and helpful Web site www.wambooli.com.