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Internet Tips
Tips To Keep Your Computer Running
Smoothly!!
Keep your data safe and your computer
system running smoothly with the following tips and advice!
#1 suggestion would be to get SecureIT
Plus. However if you want to spend your own time and provide
prevention manually, just follow the suggestions below.
* Make sure you have an Anti-Virus program with up-to-date virus
definitions. A virus can cause untold damage to your data and system
files. We see a lot of infected computers with anti-virus software
installed, but the definitions were never updated! Update your definitions
at least weekly.
* Be sure your computer is plugged into a
surge protector -- not just a power strip! A nearby lightning strike
or a regular power surge can destroy your system.
* Take the time to make backups of all your
important data. You'd be surprised at how many failed hard drives
we see... and the data is lost.
* Consider purchasing a system "tune-up"
utility such as Norton's Systemworks.
* And of course, don't open any email attachments
that you are not expecting or you are not 100% sure that the attachment
came from a legitimate source (friend, relative, or business associate).
Email viruses many times may come from an acquaintance, and were
actually sent from the infected computer without the person's knowledge.
Hartel offers Postini, a highly-rated virus and spam (unwanted email
solicitations) filter. Postini is many customers' first line of
defense against viruses and spam. Contact us for more information
about Postini.
EVERY WEEK:
(Many of the tips below can be done automatically by subscribing
to SecureIT Plus.
Click here
for more info)
1. Keep Your Windows Operating System Updated.
Open Internet Explorer, go to Tools, and Windows Update. Scan for
and download any critical updates to your Windows operating system.
These will help keep your system tuned, and also help prevent attacks
from hackers on your computer.
2. Update Virus Definitions.
To update, you must be connected to the Internet. If you are using
Norton Anti-Virus, open the program and click "Live Update".
Other anti-virus programs have a similar update feature.
3. Run a Full System Virus Scan.
Be sure you've updated your virus definitions before you complete
this step. If you are using Norton Anti-Virus, open the program
and click "Full System Scan". Then click the "Scan
Now" button. Other anti-virus programs have a similar scanning
feature.
4. Back Up Your Important Data.
In order to do this, you must have some kind of backup device, such
as a CD burner, Zip drive, second hard drive, or a network connection
to another computer. Floppy disks do not have enough capacity to
backup large files. In Windows, use the Backup program. Select Start>
Programs> Accessories> System Tools> Backup.
5. Run Scandisk Standard.
Scan disk will check your hard drive for errors in your directory
structure. In Windows, open My Computer> Right Click on your
hard drive (usually the C: drive) > Select Properties from the
drop down menu > Select the Tools tab > Select Check Now.
6. Install a Firewall If You Have
DSL or an "always-on" connection to the Internet.
A firewall will protect your computer from being seen by hackers,
and may also prevent spyware from using your computer to access
the Internet without your knowledge. A free firewall that we recommend
is Zone Alarm. Click here
to download Zone Alarm. Be sure to read any tutorials for proper
use.
7. Use One or More Spyware Detection
Programs. See the large section below on spyware, its cause,
and the effects of having spyware on your computer.
EVERY MONTH:
1. Run Disk Defragmenter.
Disk defragmenter puts all your data on your hard drive in sequential
order, and should result in your computer finding the data on your
hard drive faster. In Windows, open My Computer> Right Click
on your hard drive (usually the C: drive) > Select Properties
from the drop down menu > Select the Tools tab > Select Defragment
Now.
2. Run Scandisk Thorough.
Scan disk thorough will check your hard drive for errors in your
directory structure and check for bad sectors and physical damage
to the disk itself. In Windows, open My Computer > Right Click
on your hard drive (usually the C: drive) > Select Properties
from the drop down menu > Select the Tools tab > Select Check
Now.
3. Run Disk Cleanup.
This program gets rid of all unnecessary files building on your
computer. In Windows, select Start > Programs > Accessories
> System Tools > Disk Cleanup.
It is Hartel's goal to provide the most reliable and secure Internet
service possible. We hope that you will find this information useful,
and as always, we thank you for your business.
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Spyware
and Pop-Up Ad Problems?
Although it is possible
for a Web site to download spyware to your system, it is very unusual.
The ads probably are coming from spyware that you inadvertently
downloaded . These programs report your browsing interests to a
computer on the Internet. That computer then downloads ads based
on those interests. Supposedly, they are things you will want to
see.
Spyware often is downloaded as part of
the package accompanying another program. Free programs especially
are likely to include spyware. They help pay the bills for the programmer.
You'll often get a message that says something like, "Do you
want to download (name of program)." These programs usually
offer some kind of Internet search capability, or perhaps changes
to your browser. But
their main goal is to spy on you or to route you to their advertisers.
When you get one of these messages, stop and think. What does the
program do? Can your browser already do this? Is this new functionality
worthwhile?
In all likelihood, the program offers you next to nothing. In some
cases, there is no explanation. I treat these things as I do door-to-
door salesmen and telemarketers: I just say no.
Before you download a program, check it in the database at SpyChecker
(http://www.spycheck.com).
This database will tell you if spyware is included in the package.
There are many spyware
programs on the Internet, and these programs should not hurt
your computer. But they are obviously irritating. The best way to
eradicate them is through a spyware scanning program, such as Ad-aware
(http://www.lavasoftusa.com)
and Spybot Search and Destroy (http://security.kolla.de).
There are numerous programs that will prevent spyware from installing
on your system. Here are links to information and some programs:
http://www.spywareinfo.com/hijacked.html
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/bhblaster.html
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/wmpscriptingfix.html
Some websites have all sorts of pop-up ads. Another free
program that will prevent you from seeing all these annoying ads
is Pop-Up Stopper (http://www.panicware.com/).
It's relatively simple and a small file to download.
Also for a free firewall, download and install Zone
Alarm (free from Zone Labs). This will help keep hackers from
detecting your PC if you have DSL.
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Email
Size Limit
Each HARTEL.NET email account is allowed up to 50MB of disk space
on our servers. This is a very generous limit and should easily
meet your needs. To check how much space your email account is using
click here.
If you’re mailbox is approaching the 50MB limit, it potentially
can cause your email downloading to become very slow or not work
at all. In our experience, when mailboxes become this large it typically
indicates one of these possible causes:
- The mailbox (email account) has been abandoned and is no longer
being checked or used.
- Your computer’s email program is accidentally set to “leave
mail on server”. To check if this is the case, within your
Outlook Express Email program choose:
- Tools
- Accounts
- Select the Mail tab and highlight your mail account
- Click Properties on the right
- Click the Advanced tab at the top
- There should NOT be a check next to "Leave a copy of message
on server"
- The 50MB email limit applies to messages waiting on our server
for you to download or being saved in webmail -- this does not
affect email you have already received and you are storing on
your computer.
If you have any questions about managing your email account, please
contact the Hartel.Net Team at 402-254-3901.
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HelpDesk
Information
NEW EXPANDED HELP
DESK HOURS!!! CALL 254-3902 ANYTIME
DAY OR NIGHT!!!
Hartington
Telecommunications has now expanded our help desk
hours to 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week! When you sign up for Hartel Internet service
you may simply call us at the telephone office to reach our Internet
help desk.
This is a local call so you will not incur long distance
charges. So whenever you experience problems,
we're still just a quick phone call away...and now we're available
to answer your questions 24/7! Please note that our help desk service
may not be available on certain holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas,
New Years, etc) so our employees can enjoy the holiday with their
families.
Future notices will be posted here, and
will be sent by email to our customers. It has come to our attention
that some of our customers do not use the hartel.net email address
that is provided with your primary account. If you do not check
that email address, you will not receive our subsequent correspondence.
Therefore, if you are one of these customers, please send an email
to htc@hartel.net that contains
the email address that you prefer us to use to correspond with you.
We at Hartington Telecommunications
celebrated our centennial in 2005, and we are continuing our
100-year commitment to bring you the newest technologies and the
best service available. If you have questions about our expanded
help desk or any subsequent email, please call us at 254-3902
and we will be happy to assist you!
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