Use your credit cards wisely
For many people, managing a credit card is harder than getting one.
Understand that any time you use a credit card, you are borrowing money. If you don't pay off your balance each month, interest will be added to the total amount you owe.
Think before getting your first credit card. Think very carefully before you decide to get your first credit card. Do you really need a credit card or would another option work just as well? Some other options to think about:
Getting a debit card, which is connected to your checking or savings account rather than borrowing money for each transaction.
Considering sharing a card with your parents and asking them to help you stay on track.
Waiting. Just put off the decision for six months or a year and see how well you might do without a credit card.
Choose wisely. When selecting a credit card, you should shop around for the best deal. Compare different cards based on your own situation. Look for the following:
A low annual percentage rate (APR). The lower the rate, the less interest you have to pay. Watch out for low introductory rates that are raised after a year or less.
The interest calculation method. This affects how much interest you pay, even when the APR is identical.
Low or no annual fees. If the issuer charges an annual fee, ask them to waive it.
All other charges (i.e., late payment fees, transaction fees, over the limit fees, etc). These can really add to the total cost of your charges.
A grace period. Some credit cards charge interest from the day that the charges appear on your account. Other cards offer a grace period for you to pay off your balance before interest charges begin to accrue.
The credit limit. Keep your credit limit low (think about $500 or less), to make sure you don’t get in over your head.
Wide acceptance. A major credit card is convenient, and easier to manage.
Services and features, such as cash rebates, frequent flyer miles, extended warrantees, etc. Think carefully about the true cost of these programs when you consider interest and other charges.
Limit the number of cards you get. It will be easier to keep track of your spending.
Track your spending. Waiting until your statement arrives once a month to think about your balance can get you into trouble quickly.
Check your account online frequently.
Save receipts.
Maintain a ledger.
Consider signing up for balance notices and billing statement notifications from your credit card provider.
For each of your cards, keep a record of the following in case your card is lost or stolen. Even better, keep a photo copy of the front and back of your card in a safe place at home.
Account number
Issuer’s name
Phone number
The bottom line: Don't spend more than you can afford to pay on a monthly basis. Wise use of your credit cards will help you establish a solid credit rating and avoid financial problems.

ದಿಕೆಜರ್-ಕೆಜರ್ ಅಗೇನ್ ಅಸುರನ್ಸಿ

Pernahkah Anda didatangi oleh agen asuransi? Atau saat ini malah dikejar-kejar Agen Asuransi. Apa yang ada di benak Anda saat itu? Apakah menurut Anda asuransi ada manfaatnya? Apa persepsi Anda tentang asuransi?. Cukup banyak tanggapan yang muncul, ada yang berkonotasi negatif tetapi ada juga yang positif.
Namun Bagi Anda yang ingin Menolak Asuransi berikut ada Tips Jitu Cara Menolak Asuransi :
1) Saya tidak punya uang untuk beli asuransi
Orang yang tidak mampu membeli asuransi sebenarnya justru orang yang lebih membutuhkan asuransi dibandingkan dengan orang yang mampu membelinya.
Jika anda tidak dapat membayar semua tagihan saat anda sehat dan dapat bekerja, bagaimana mungkin anda akan dapat membayarnya saat anda sakit dan tidak memiliki penghasilan? Asuransi adalah rekening AJAIB yang akan dapat mengurus pembayaran semua tagihan-tagihan lainnya jika anda menderita sakit kritis, cacat tetap, atau meninggal dunia.
Asuransi harus menjadi prioritas pertama, setelah kebutuhan pokok terpenuhi, untuk dibayarkan didalam rencana pengeluaran bulanan anda.
2) Saya masih punya cicilan kredit rumah
Ketika Anda memiliki kredit rumah, anda harus terus menerus membayar sejumlah besar uang selama 10 atau 15 tahun ke depan. Anda memang dapat memenuhi kewajiban tersebut, tapi apakah keluarga anda dapat membayarnya jika anda meninggal dunia atau mengalami cacat tetap sebelum cicilan kredit tersebut selesai? Marilah pastikan keluarga anda akan tetap tinggal di rumah yang indah, rumah yang telah anda berikan bagi mereka untuk selamanya.
3) Saya tidak butuh asuransi
Saya sangat setuju Anda tidak membutuhkannya. Apakah menurut Anda seorang yang menjadi cacat tetap karena suatu kejadian membutuhkan asuransi? Apakah orang yang baru saja terkena serangan jantung & harus mengeluarkan uang 150 juta untuk biaya operasi membutuhkannya ? Apakah orang yang meninggal dunia membutuhkannya ?
Ya ! mereka membutuhkannya tetapi tidak dapat membelinya pada saat itu.
Asuransi harus dibeli justru pada saat Anda tidak membutuhkannya. Karena pada saat Anda membutuhkannya, mungkin Anda sudah tidak dapat membelinya lagi. itulah Asuransi. Anda hanya dapat membeli asuransi ketika Anda sehat. Anda membeli asuransi dengan kesehatan Anda dan membayarnya dengan uang Anda. Jika Anda tidak lolos pemeriksaan kesehatan, maka Anda tidak akan dapat membeli asuransi walaupun Anda memiliki uang.
Inilah saat yang tepat bagi Anda untuk membeli asuransi.
4) Saya diskusikan dulu dengan istri saya
Jika Anda menanyakan kepada istri Anda apakah Anda perlu membeli asuransi jiwa, maka istri Anda pasti berpikir, "Jika saya meminta suami saya untuk membeli, mungkin suami saya akan mengira bahwa saya mengharapkan suami meninggal agar saya menjadi seorang janda kaya"
Namun jauh di dalam hati & pikirannya mungkin ia memikirkan apa yang akan terjadi pada dirinya dan anak-anaknya, jika suaminya meninggal dunia. Bagaimanapun juga Anda telah menempatkan istri Anda ke dalam keadaan yang sulit.
Asuransi adalah hadiah yang terbaik yang Anda belikan untuk istri Anda. Anda tidak perlu berdiskusi dengannya. Anda dapat langsung membelinya. Setelah Anda menerima polisnya barulah Anda bawa polis tersebut & berkatakan padanya : "Kekasihku, sepanjang masa hidupku aku akan menjaga dan mencukupi segala kebutuhan kita, makanan, pakaian, tempat tinggal, pendidikan anak kita. Tetapi jika suatu hari nanti saya meninggal dunia, maka polis inilah akan menjagamu serta mencukupi setiap kebutuhan makanan, pakaian, tempat tinggal, pendidikan sama seperti yang sekarang saya sediakan. Sebesar inilah cintaku padamu dan pada keluarga kita" Itulah bukti sesungguhnya dari cinta Anda. Istri Anda akan semakin mencintai Anda.
5) Saya ingin membandingkan dengan Asuransi perusahaan lain
Ini adalah gagasan yang baik, tahukah Anda ada berapa puluh perusahaan asuransi jiwa di Indonesia dan jika Anda tidak membuat perbandingan dengan setiap perusahaan tersebut maka Anda tidak akan sungguh-sungguh tahu apakah Anda telah mendapatkan yang terbaik. Betulkah demikian ?
Ada satu kelemahannya. Bagaimana jika terjadi sesuatu pada diri Anda selama masa Anda membanding-bandingkan semua perusahaan ini ? Anda telah yakin bahwa Anda membutuhkan perlindungan. Sementara Anda akan melakukan perbandingan, bukankah sebaiknya Anda sudah dilindungi terlebih dahulu ?
Jadi sementara Anda membandingkan, Anda dapat menikmati perlindungan cuma-cuma dengan fasilitas "FREE LOOK" sehingga selama 2 minggu setelah menerima polis, Anda dapat membuat perbandingan dengan tenang.
6) Biarlah Tuhan yang menyediakan segalanya
Ya, Anda benar, saya sependapat dengan Anda. Dan kalau Anda sadar Tuhan yang telah mengirim saya untuk menolong Anda dan itu sebabnya saya ada di sini dan datang kepada Anda.
Tuhan yang memelihara kita dan menyediakan segala kebutuhan kita. Tuhan juga telah melengkapi kita dengan kepandaian & kebijaksanaan untuk memenuhi kebutuhan-kebutuhan kita. Tetapi apakah Anda hanya tinggal diam di kamar tidur sepanjang hari? Tentu tidak kan..?
7) Anda terlalu memaksa, saya tidak mau membeli dari Anda
Jika Anda tidak ingin membelinya dari saya, tidak masalah. Jika saya terlalu mendesak Anda, saya mohon maaf. Tidaklah penting bahwa Anda membeli asuransi ini dari saya, tetapi saya mohon setelah Anda membaca ini, tolong segera angkat telpon Anda dan panggilah agen lain.
Saya mohon maaf sekali lagi kalau saya telah berbuat kesalahan, kadangkala saya tanpa sadar terlalu memaksa calon klien. Namun saya benar-benar tulus & jujur melakukannya.
Ketika anak saya menolak minum obat ketika dia sakit, saya akan memaksanya walaupun dia tidak suka. Demi kebaikan dia karena saya tahu bahwa setelah makan obat dia akan sembuh. Saya juga melakukan hal yang sama sekarang, saya memaksa Anda demi kebaikan Anda sendiri.
Apakah Anda pernah melihat dokter yang memaksa pasiennya untuk menjalani operasi ? Mereka percaya dan yakin pada apa yang mereka lakukan, demikian juga saya percaya & yakin pada apa yang saya lakukan. Saya percaya dengan tulus bahwa semua orang memerlukan asuransi.
8) Teman saya juga agen lho, aku akan ambil dari dia
Jikalau Anda memiliki teman baik yang juga menjadi agen asuransi jiwa, seharusnya saat ini Anda telah memiliki polis asuransi. Ketika ternyata Anda belum memiliki polis asuransi, maka orang tersebut bukanlah sahabat sejati Anda, tetapi sayalah teman Anda.
Yang namanya temen sejati adalah orang yang bisa bantu kita pada saat kita kesusahan. Kalo kita masuk rumah sakit, biasanya teman kita bawa buah, agen asuransi bawa duit. Saya ingin menjadi teman yang memaksa Anda untuk menandatangani surat pengajuan polis saat ini yang akan memberikan jaminan keamanan bagi keluarga Anda.
9) Asuransi bertentangan dengan agama saya
Sahabat netter, berapakah uang yang biasa Anda gunakan untuk kebutuhan makanan sehari-hari keluarga Anda ?
Jika Rp 50 ribu per hari atau setahunnya setara dengan Rp 50 ribu x 365 hari = Rp 18,5 juta rupiah. Dengan demikian, jika Anda membeli program asuransi senilai 200 juta rupiah, maka ini akan menyediakan cukup untuk makan keluarga Anda selama 10 tahun mendatang.
Apakah Tuhan akan menghukum Anda karena Anda telah menyediakan makanan untuk keluarga Anda jika Anda meninggal dunia atau cacat tetap ? Tidak ada agama yang menyatakan bahwa membeli asuransi jiwa itu bertentangan dengan agama.
Menurut agama Islam, dosa hukumnya jika Anda tidak menyediakan kebutuhan keluarga Anda walaupun Anda sedang tidak berada di sekitar mereka.
Ada seseorang sahabat yang mengatakan bahwa asuransi bertentangan dengan agamanya dan ia tidak ingin membeli polis apapun.
Ia menjalankan sebuah usaha. Setiap kali saya melakukan perjalanan ke luar kota, saya akan mampir ke rumah makan tersebut untuk minum teh dan makan, semabari beristirahat.
Suatu hari ketika saya mampir ke sana, saya melihatnya berjalan pincang saat melayani saya. Saya menanyakan apa yang terjadi. ia berkata bahwa baru 3 bulan sebelumnya ia menjalani operasi by pass jantung. saya menasihati dia agar beristirahat, namun ia mengatakan bahwa ia harus membuka usahanya selama 24 jam sehari untuk membayar hutang-hutangnya. ia terpaksa harus meminjam uang sebesar 150 juta rupiah kepada sanak saudaranya untuk biaya operasi tersebut.
Saya menanyakan di mana istrinya berada? Ia mengatakan bahwa istrinya sedang berjualan makanan di kantin sekolah agar mendapatkan uang tambahan untuk membayar pinjamannya.
Ia berkata bahwa ia menyesali keputusannya untuk tidak mengikuti program asuransi yang saya tawarkan pada saat sebelum semua hal tersebut terjadi. Jika ia membeli program asuransi tersebut ia tidak perlu membuka rumah makannya selama 24 jam dan menderita untuk melunasi hutangnya.
Ia mengatakan lagi bahwa Ia juga tidak berani membayangkan apa yang akan terjadi dengan keluarganya jika ia meninggal dalam operasi. bagaimana cara keluarganya harus melunasi hutang-hutangnya. Orang inilah yang mengatakan kepada saya bahwa ia tidak tertarik untuk membeli asuransi, hanya karena hal itu bertentangan dengan agamanya.
Ia berkata "Saya telah menerima informasi yang salah yang mengatakan bahwa asuransi jiwa bertentangan dengan agama saya. sekarang saya merasa bahwa justru dengan saya tidak membeli asuransi jiwa itulah bertentangan dengan agama saya, karena saya telah membuat keluarga saya menderita dan membuat istri saya terpaksa harus mengemis pada keluarganya untuk membiayai operasi saya. saya telah membuat dia susah".
Jadi apapun alasan Anda .... Memiliki sebuah Polis Asuransi adalah Pilihan Cerdas.
"Memang benar dan saya yakin Anda telah mengatakan hal sebenarnya, Anda sering dikejar oleh agen-agen asuransi, tapi disaat yang sama apakah bapak bapak sadar kalo kematian juga sedang mengejar Anda?, begitu kematian mendapatkan anda tidak akan ada lagi agen yang akan mengejar Anda, kan lebih baik saya (Agen Asuransi) yang mendapatkan bapak terlebih dahulu sebelum kematian yang mendapatkan Anda"

What is Global Warming

Global warming is when the earth heats up (the temperature rises). It happens when greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature. This hurts many people, animals, and plants. Many cannot take the change, so they die.

What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is when the temperature rises because the sun’s heat and light is trapped in the earth’s atmosphere. This is like when heat is trapped in a car. On a very hot day, the car gets hotter when it is out in the parking lot. This is because the heat and light from the sun can get into the car, by going through the windows, but it can’t get back out. This is what the greenhouse effect does to the earth. The heat and light can get through the atmosphere, but it can’t get out. As a result, the temperature rises. The squiggle lines coming from the sun are visible light and the lines and arrows inside the car are infrared light.

The sun’s heat can get into the car through the windows but is then trapped. This makes what ever the place might be, a greenhouse, a car, a building, or the earth’s atmosphere, hotter. This diagram shows the heat coming into a car as visible light (light you can see) and infrared light (heat). Once the light is inside the car, it is trapped and the heat builds up, just like it does in the earth’s atmosphere.

Sometimes the temperature can change in a way that helps us. The greenhouse effect makes the earth appropriate for people to live on. Without it, the earth would be freezing, or on the other hand it would be burning hot. It would be freezing at night because the sun would be down. We would not get the sun’s heat and light to make the night somewhat warm. During the day, especially during the summer, it would be burning because the sun would be up with no atmosphere to filter it, so people, plants, and animals would be exposed to all the light and heat.

Although the greenhouse effect makes the earth able to have people living on it, if there gets to be too many gases, the earth can get unusually warmer, and many plants, animals, and people will die. They would die because there would be less food (plants like corn, wheat, and other vegetables and fruits). This would happen because the plants would not be able to take the heat. This would cause us to have less food to eat, but it would also limit the food that animals have. With less food, like grass, for the animals that we need to survive (like cows) we would even have less food. Gradually, people, plants, and animals would all die of hunger. 

What are greenhouse gasses?

Greenhouse gasses are gasses are in the earth’s atmosphere that collect heat and light from the sun. With too many greenhouse gasses in the air, the earth’s atmosphere will trap too much heat and the earth will get too hot. As a result people, animals, and plants would die because the heat would be too strong.

What is global warming doing to the environment?

Global warming is affecting many parts of the world. Global warming makes the sea rise, and when the sea rises, the water covers many low land islands. This is a big problem for many of the plants, animals, and people on islands. The water covers the plants and causes some of them to die. When they die, the animals lose a source of food, along with their habitat. Although animals have a better ability to adapt to what happens than plants do, they may die also. When the plants and animals die, people lose two sources of food, plant food and animal food. They may also lose their homes. As a result, they would also have to leave the area or die. This would be called a break in the food chain, or a chain reaction, one thing happening that leads to another and so on. 

The oceans are affected by global warming in other ways, as well. Many things that are happening to the ocean are linked to global warming. One thing that is happening is warm water, caused from global warming, is harming and killing algae in the ocean.

Algae is a producer that you can see floating on the top of the water. (A producer is something that makes food for other animals through photosynthesis, like grass.) This floating green algae is food to many consumers in the ocean. (A consumer is something that eats the producers.) One kind of a consumer is small fish. There are many others like crabs, some whales, and many other animals. Fewer algae is a problem because there is less food for us and many animals in the sea.

Global warming is doing many things to people as well as animals and plants. It is killing algae, but it is also destroying many huge forests. The pollution that causes global warming is linked to acid rain. Acid rain gradually destroys almost everything it touches. Global warming is also causing many more fires that wipe out whole forests. This happens because global warming can make the earth very hot. In forests, some plants and trees leaves can be so dry that they catch on fire.

What causes global warming? 

Many things cause global warming. One thing that causes global warming is electrical pollution. Electricity causes pollution in many ways, some worse than others. In most cases, fossil fuels are burned to create electricity. Fossil fuels are made of dead plants and animals. Some examples of fossil fuels are oil and petroleum. Many pollutants (chemicals that pollute the air, water, and land) are sent into the air when fossil fuels are burned. Some of these chemicals are called greenhouse gasses.

We use these sources of energy much more than the sources that give off less pollution. Petroleum, one of the sources of energy, is used a lot. It is used for transportation, making electricity, and making many other things. Although this source of energy gives off a lot of pollution, it is used for 38% of the United States’ energy.

Some other examples of using energy and polluting the air are:

Turning on a light

Watching T.V.

Listening to a stereo

Washing or drying clothes

Using a hair dryer

Riding in a car

Heating a meal in the microwave

Using an air conditioner

Playing a video game

Using a dish washer

When you do these things, you are causing more greenhouse gasses to be sent into the air. Greenhouse gasses are sent into the air because creating the electricity you use to do these things causes pollution. If you think of how many times a day you do these things, it’s a lot. You even have to add in how many other people do these things! That turns out to be a lot of pollutants going into the air a day because of people like us using electricity. The least amount of electricity you use, the better.

When we throw our garbage away, the garbage goes to landfills. Landfills are those big hills that you go by on an expressway that stink. They are full of garbage. The garbage is then sometimes burned. This sends an enormous amount of greenhouse gasses into the air and makes global warming worse.

Another thing that makes global warming worse is when people cut down trees. Trees and other plants collect carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a greenhouse gas.

Carbon dioxide is the air that our body lets out when we breathe. With fewer trees, it is harder for people to breathe because there is more CO2 in the air, and we don’t breathe CO2, we breathe oxygen. Plants collect the CO2 that we breathe out, and they give back oxygen that we breathe in. With less trees and other plants, such as algae, there is less air for us, and more greenhouse gases are sent into the air. This means that it is very important to protect our trees to stop the greenhouse effect, and also so we can breathe and live.

This gas, CO2, collects light and heat (radiant energy), produced by the sun, and this makes the earth warmer. The heat and light from the sun is produced in the center of the sun. (The sun has layers just like the earth.)The dirty yellow color on outside is the surface. The light and dark yellow colored area is the convection zone. The orange colored area is the radiative zone, and the red colored area is the core. The squiggle lines represent radiant energy. 

This layer is called the core. Just like a core of an apple, it is in the middle. Here there is a very high temperature, about 27,000,000°F. This heat escapes out of this layer to the next layer, the radiative zone. This layer is cooler, about 4,500,000°F. Gradually, the heat and light will pass through the convection zone at a temperature of around 2,000,000°F. When it gets to the surface, the temperature is about 10,000°F. Finally, the heat and light is sent into space. This is called radiant energy (heat and light). The radiant energy reaches the earth’s atmosphere. As a result of this process we get light and heat. When you pollute, you send chemicals into the air that destroy our atmosphere, so more heat and light cannot escape from the earth’s atmosphere.

What are people doing to stop global warming? 

People are doing many things to try to stop global warming. One thing people are doing is carpooling. Carpooling is driving with someone to a place that you are both going to. This minimizes the amount of greenhouse gases put into the air by a car.

Another thing that people are doing is being more careful about leaving things turned on like the television, computer, and the lights. A lot of people are taking time away from the television, and instead, they are spending more time outdoors. This helps our planet out a lot. Now, more people are even riding busses, walking to school, and riding their bikes to lower the amount of greenhouse gases in the air. Planting trees and recycling also helps. If you recycle, less trash goes to the dump, and less trash gets burned. As a result, there are fewer greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere.

Watch what you buy. Many things, such as hairspray and deodorant, now are made to have less of an impact on the atmosphere. Less greenhouse gasses will rise into the air, and global warming will slow down.

What is the government doing to stop global warming?

The government is doing many things to help stop global warming. The government made a law called The Clean Air Act so there is less air pollution. Global warming is making people get very bad illnesses that could make them disabled, very sick, and sometimes even die. The Clean Air Act is making many companies change their products to decrease these problems. Part of the law says that you may not put a certain amount of pollutants in the air. Hairspray and some other products, like foam cups, had this problem. Making and using these products let out too much volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), ozone-destroying chemicals (chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), and related chemicals (such as CO2) into the air. Now, almost all of these products have a label on them telling people what this product can do to the environment and many people. By 2015 all products listed on the Clean Air Act will have this label on them:

WARNING: contains or manufactured with (the chemical would go here. For example chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s), a substance which harms public health and the environment by destroying ozone in the upper atmosphere. 

Almost all of the other chemicals that could be harmful will have this label on them hopefully by this time (2015) as well.

The Clean Air Act has also made car companies change some of the things inside of the cars. Cars pollute a lot. While cars make more than half of the world’s smog (visible pollution in the air), many things that cars need to move and heat up make even more pollution. Some things that are inside of cars, buses, trucks, and motorcycles, like gasoline, pollute the air when the fuel is burned. It comes out as a chemical and when mixed in the air, forms smog. Smog is a kind of pollution that you see in the form of a cloud. If you have ever been to California you can see a lot of smog in some places. Sometimes the smog gets so bad that you cannot see at all! Smog forms when car exhaust, pollution from homes, and pollution from factories mixes in the air and has a chemical reaction. The sun’s heat and light add to the reaction.

Cars, buses, and trucks are also responsible for over 50% of dangerous chemicals let into the air. Some of these chemicals can cause cancer, birth defects, trouble breathing, brain and nerve damage, lung injures, and burning eyes. Some of the pollutants are so harmful that they can even cause death.

What are some of the other dangerous chemicals?

Some other chemicals that cause air pollution and are bad for the environment and people are:

Ozone- Ozone is produced when other pollution chemicals combine. It is the basic element of smog. It causes many different kinds of health issues dealing with the lungs. It can damage plants and limit sight. It can also cause a lot of property damage.

VOC’s (volatile organic compounds, smog formers)- VOC’s are let into the air when fuel is burned. This chemical can cause cancer. It can also harm plants.

NOx (nitrogen dioxide)- This chemical forms smog. It is also formed by burning sources of energy, like gas, coal, and oil, and by cars. This chemical causes problems in the respiratory system (including the lungs). It causes acid rain, and it can damage trees. This chemical can eat away buildings and statues.

CO (carbon monoxide)- The source of this chemical is burning sources of energy. It causes blood vessel problems and respiratory failures.

PM-10 (particulate matter)- The source of this chemical is plowing and burning down fields. It can cause death and lung damage. It can make it hard for people to breathe. The smoke, soot, ash, and dust formed by this chemical can make many cities dirty.

Sulfur Dioxide- This chemical is produced by making paper and metals. This chemical can cause permanent lung damage. It can cause acid rain which kills trees and damages building and statues.

Lead- This chemical is in paint, leaded gasoline, smelters, and in lead storage batteries. It can cause many brain and nerve damages and digestive problems.

Kids can help stop global warming, too!!

Although adults do many things to help stop global warming, kids can do just as much. Kids can’t do hard things like making a law, but we can do easier things like not watching as much TV. You can listen to your parents when they say, turn off your lights or go play outside. Listening to them and actually trying to help can help you, your environment, and the world.

How to Prevent Computer Viruses

Don't Let a Virus Break Your Computer

A computer virus can wipe out everything you've worked hard for including your identity. We pay thousands of dollars a year in insurance to protect us, our home, our cars and even kids. But how many of us take the easy steps to protect all of those things by protecting our computer.

Step 1

Realize how important your computer is! Remember that everything about you is probably on your computer. If you access your bank account online, pay bills online, buy things online, e-mail people, or download anything you are at risk. Should you stop using the Internet, of course not, just realize how much of your life could be exposed if you don’t protect it.

Step 2

What happens if you get a virus! Some viruses are relatively harmless they just make pop-up ads appear and slow down your computer. Others can “hijack” your computer and use it for illegal activities like hacking, spamming, or even identity theft.

Step 3

Learn how to use the Internet Safely! The internet is an unbelievable tool that can really make your life a lot easier especially if you use it safely. Make sure you not to download anything from any website you don’t know and trust. Do not open e-mail attachments from people you don’t know and be careful even if it is someone you know. If there computer was taken over they could send the virus to you. Don’t put disks or thumb drives into your computer if you not positive they won’t have viruses. Also not all “anti-virus” programs are safe make sure you research them(Google them and look for reviews). Some "anit-virus" programs are just basically viruses hidden in a nice package.

Step 4

Just to make this sink home here is an example of what can happen. Jon was looking for a particular video of the newest RVs. He found one that looked good, but it wouldn’t display unless he downloaded an “Active X” file, this had happened before so he downloaded it. The video never worked and an hour later his internet speed plummeted. Anytime he went to any site it wouldn't load. He ran virus scan after virus scan and everything showed clean. He happened to use his laptop to check his bank account and it said his account was locked from failed password attempts. Now he was really scared so he started getting more virus programs and basically 3 days later for 4 additional “virus” programs he got it cleaned up. Meanwhile he lost not only potential money from being able to use his computer, but also all those hours of his life.

Step 5

Prevention – OS Updates – One way to protect your computer is to make sure your operating system has the latest updates. The manufacturer of the operating system should be sending out regular updates which include security updates. These try to fix any holes or security risks in the software, it’s very important to keep this up-to-date. It is your first line of defense. For detailed instructions check out the E-How article on Windows Updates listed below.

Step 6

Prevention – Anti Virus – The next few steps will cover how to prevent viruses. You should have at least one Anti-Virus program (see the resources for a list of programs). Make sure you keep it up-to-date, new viruses come out every week. You also want to set it up to scan your computer once a week. If you’re familiar with computers you may even want to install two anti-virus programs since they may catch different viruses, although this can cause problems so only do this if your comfortable troubleshooting.

Step 7

Prevention – Spyware – Some viruses are called spyware and they reside on your computer and may be used as key loggers, which track what you type-in on your keyboard in hopes of getting a password or other information. To prevent these there are some great tools like www.spybot.com and Spyware Blaster(see resources). Spybot locks down your registry(think of the registry as the backbone of your operating system) so that viruses don’t have a chance to latch onto your computer. However, this also means you will have to approve registry changes anytime you install new software. Spyware Blaster works well at preventing spyware, adware and hijackers.

Step 8

Prevention – Adware – Some viruses are called adware these are the viruses that cause you’re computer to always have pop-up advertisements or may slow your connections because they re-direct you to a site of thier choice as opposed to the site you tried to reach. One of the best tools to prevent this is Ad-aware(see Resources) which will help you prevent and clean up any adware viruses.

Step  9

Prevention – Maintenance – All the “virus” programs in the world are useless if you don’t keep them up to date and run scans regularly. When you install any of these I recommend that you setup an automatic scan for times when you won’t be normally using the computer. Remember that if your computer goes to Standby mode the scans won’t run.

Step 10

If the worst happens – If you get a virus then the best resource especially if you have an additional computer that’s virus free is the internet. Do some searches for that virus if you know its name or by the symptoms you’re computer is showing (slow, re-direct different site, etc.). One hint is you can even search IP addresses if you need to. Check out these E-how articles on Cleaning Viruses and Clean Virus Manually(see resources).