Home
>
Small Business
>
Computer Related Habits From Small Business Owner - Be Prepared, Avoid Despair

Computer Related Habits From Small Business Owner - Be Prepared, Avoid Despair

Aside from the fear of losing a spreadsheet or research project prepared for a client, what prompted me to write this article was the realization that it takes nothing short of persistent follow up to stay ahead of computer threats which could ruin my business. I also accepted the fact that keeping my computer free of viruses and spam is paramount to ensuring my computer is not going to harm others.

If you don't have a technical assistance person or call desk to support you and users of the computers that are part of your business, it is time to establish a routine that prepares you for potential losses or lapses.

If you are convinced protecting your computer is important, but still haven't done anything about it, then I urge you to hire or barter with someone who is technically competent to teach you, or set up a technical support program.

I don't offer these services, but I can help you evaluate your needs and the type of provider that would work best for you. Also, look in the phone book under the heading "Computer-Services & Repair" for providers in your area. If worse comes to worst, there's a heading for "Computer-Data Recovery" services.

Also, I hate to tell you, but don't expect much sympathy these days from people about losing all your emails, files and pictures. Almost everyone has their own "been there, done that" tale tell. It might even be worse than yours.

If you are not already doing so, my advice as a business owner is to do the following on a weekly or at least monthly basis. Please note I am keeping terminology very broad in order to reach a wide range of users. Whether you use a Mac or PC here's what you should do:

- Monitor updates of the programs you rely upon. The periodic release of downloadable updates to operating programs and software applications is an advisable layer of protection. Enable the automatic notification feature so you are prompted when downloads are available.

- Run virus scans regularly. Say it again and commit to setting a weekly schedule. Always review the results before proceeding. Never ignore the warning of a known threat.

- Back up regularly. The price of blank, recordable media is no longer prohibitive. If you have lots of data, get a "zip drive" device that stores data on cartridges that hold more than a CD or disk. The initial set up can be complicated, and it's no disgrace to ask for help from a technically inclined friend or contractor.

- In a somewhat logical manner, file emails for future reference. Set up folders by the names of people you work with or by active projects. Set a routine of emptying your inbox on a regular basis.

- Fine tune file management settings so the auto-archive and auto-delete functions behave as you wish. Otherwise, you might not know where all your emails go after a feature kicks in. The Outlook rules feature lets you customize even further.

Another good habit is keeping the boxes and media for software applications both together and accessible to your computer. Resist the temptation to tuck those oversized boxes away. Try to keep at least the operating system applications at close hand.

As long as you are using the application, do not get rid of either the box or media needed to install it. Over time, you (or the person who works on your computer) will need these. Product registration, rebates, upgrades and product support require the key numbers and/or inserting the media.

Indeed, all of these somewhat tedious tasks take away from my time delivering billable work or promoting my business. But the thing is, when the routines are complete and back ups stowed, I am less anxious about computer infiltration or the possibility of a system failure. That kind of peace of mind is worth the investment.

Elisa Shostak is the founder of Compass Rose Strategic Consulting LLC, an advisory service and secondary research firm based in Seattle, Washington.

Elisa can be contacted through her website: http://www.compassrosellc.com or blog http://www.compassrosellc.com

cleaning help near Mundelein ..

In The News:

A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.

AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.

A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.

New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.

Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.

Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.

Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.

Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.

Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.

Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.

iPhone and Android users can reduce battery drain and data usage by restricting Background App Refresh to Wi-Fi connections instead of mobile networks.

Scammers nearly stole an Apple account by exploiting the support system with authentic-looking tickets and phone calls, users can protect themselves with safety steps.

FoloToy restored sales of its AI teddy bear Kumma after a weeklong suspension following safety group findings of risky and inappropriate responses to children.

Threat intelligence firm Synthient uncovers one of the largest password exposures ever, prompting immediate security recommendations.

Viral video shared by Elon Musk shows Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots performing tasks from cooking to construction, garnering over 58.5 million views on social media.

Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.

Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.

Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.

New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.

FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.

New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.