Most of us are afraid that computers can be dangerous and destroy
1. Our health
2. Our wealth
3. Our relationships
4. Our physical safety
5. Our mental well-being.
Let me tell you what I do to use computers safely:
1. Health and ergonomics
I do not use computers for long hours at a stretch. I take breaks in-between. I sit in a well lit room and adjust the monitor brightness so it does not burn my eyes. I sit at a comfortable height and work with my hands and neck placed at the right angles. I don't strain my wrists by continuous stress. I don't play sound too loud. I don't watch long movies or videos.
2. Financial safety
I do net banking and online purchases. I use HDFC Bank which prides itself on net safety. I use Visa card with 128 bit SSL along with Verified by Visa double security. After many years I can state I have never lost a penny because of computer thieves. Once, someone in Amsterdam at a store used my credit card to steal some 28000 rupees. I lodged a complaint with Amex over phone and they refunded the amount to me. But this was Card theft and not computer theft.
3. Social risks
I do not risk myself hobnobbing with strangers on Facebook or Twitter or Yahoo Messenger. I protect my phone number and address in all online chats etc. I believe the mobile phone poses in general a bigger risk. But I have so far faced no issues.
4. Physical safety
I have logical reasons to believe that my physical safety is assured by my life-style and social circles. I am helped by not being too rich or too adventurous. No added risk due to computers.
5. Mental well-being
When I read about people having insane lives driven by computer excesses and watching bad stuff etc. I do see all those dangers. Luckily I am a sober and uninteresting creature of safe habits.
Well, what about VIRUSES? I use AVG SECURITY free licence since 2009. I have had nothing lost due to viruses. I back up data on a removable USB hard disk regularly.I store a lot of personal data on a free Drop Box account. So far I have not lost data or programs to viruses or crashes.
The Apple computer and iPad are intrinsically way more safe compared to Windows computers, due o the sheer architecture of software. But I must say that 80% of my work is on Windows computers.
Read more about computer safety here: http://bit.ly/cccsafety
1. Our health
2. Our wealth
3. Our relationships
4. Our physical safety
5. Our mental well-being.
Let me tell you what I do to use computers safely:
1. Health and ergonomics
I do not use computers for long hours at a stretch. I take breaks in-between. I sit in a well lit room and adjust the monitor brightness so it does not burn my eyes. I sit at a comfortable height and work with my hands and neck placed at the right angles. I don't strain my wrists by continuous stress. I don't play sound too loud. I don't watch long movies or videos.
2. Financial safety
I do net banking and online purchases. I use HDFC Bank which prides itself on net safety. I use Visa card with 128 bit SSL along with Verified by Visa double security. After many years I can state I have never lost a penny because of computer thieves. Once, someone in Amsterdam at a store used my credit card to steal some 28000 rupees. I lodged a complaint with Amex over phone and they refunded the amount to me. But this was Card theft and not computer theft.
3. Social risks
I do not risk myself hobnobbing with strangers on Facebook or Twitter or Yahoo Messenger. I protect my phone number and address in all online chats etc. I believe the mobile phone poses in general a bigger risk. But I have so far faced no issues.
4. Physical safety
I have logical reasons to believe that my physical safety is assured by my life-style and social circles. I am helped by not being too rich or too adventurous. No added risk due to computers.
5. Mental well-being
When I read about people having insane lives driven by computer excesses and watching bad stuff etc. I do see all those dangers. Luckily I am a sober and uninteresting creature of safe habits.
Well, what about VIRUSES? I use AVG SECURITY free licence since 2009. I have had nothing lost due to viruses. I back up data on a removable USB hard disk regularly.I store a lot of personal data on a free Drop Box account. So far I have not lost data or programs to viruses or crashes.
The Apple computer and iPad are intrinsically way more safe compared to Windows computers, due o the sheer architecture of software. But I must say that 80% of my work is on Windows computers.
Read more about computer safety here: http://bit.ly/cccsafety
