On this page, I will address some basics of Microsoft operating systems. You will want to refer to the Links page for more specific information as well.
The first thing you need to know about computers is: they all have one operation in common - they process information. Whether it's the one you are reading this with or one in your car - this fact does not change. You can sit down to any computer designed to access a web page and do so - as long as security is not setup to block the page you want to access, and the page is functioning. It does not matter if it is a Microsoft, Macintosh, Linux, or some other operating system - if it's designed to do it and is working, you can do it.
In my opinion, most computer technicians do not tell people the importance of, or how to setup their computer (especially for security) for use with the Internet.
These operating systems are not designed to be servers. This can be a very good thing for home users. However, Microsoft is phasing out support for them. While you can create user profiles to have custom desktops and such, each profile has access to all files on computer. Therefore, it is not very secure if someone else has physical access to the computer. From the standpoint of Internet Security, this same issue can be somewhat of a plus. Since they are not servers and do not run as many powerful system applications, they are less likely to be hacked or attacked by viruses. If you already have one of these operating systems and do not need the 'latest and greatest' for things like word processing and simple games, then stick with it.
These operating systems are designed to be servers. Within these operating systems, you can also create individual profiles for users. However, these profiles can be made much more secure than on the previously mentioned operating systems. If setup properly, someone sitting at the computer would have a much harder time accessing your personal information. It is most important to make sure you are not logging in with Administrator Privileges all the time on these operating systems. If you do, you can expect to have problems. In fact, hackers/virus writers/spyware writers hope you will log on as Administrator all the time... SO DON'T DO IT! My personal opinion is that if a computer technician tells you it's alright to log in as Administrator all the time, they most likely do not know what they are doing or just want your repeat business! I like repeat business too, and even give discounts for scheduled maintaince, but I prefer new challenges instead of fixing the same problems all the time. Therefore, I'll make every effort to set you up correctly the first time. I will set up your system(s) to keep them functioning, provided they are used responsibly. I will also install several programs and take the time to explain them to you, enabling you to take care of small issues yourself.
Check out our Links for help on the following (and probably more): Fixing your own computer, what a computer is, Microsoft basics, customizing Internet Explorer, Searches, Internet Security, Viruses, and Spyware.
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