Free, Simple & Quick Computer Security Update for Windows

Updating your security is a proactive way to ensure that your computer is up and running when you need it. Even if you have anti-virus programs, it is important to keep your computer security up to date through Microsoft. Your setting may be configured to allow for automatic updating, if they are not, here is a free and simple way to make sure that your computer is up to date against the latest security threats.

What are Windows Security Updates?

Security updates are fixes to possible security threats in Windows programming and  help improve the performance and reliability of windows and other applications

Why do I need to update my security?

People who create viruses and other malware look for weak and vulnerable spots in programs, Windows’ engineers work to continually update their programs to patch those weak and vulnerable parts of your system.

How often are security updates available?

Along with all other Windows Updates, Windows Security Updates are available once a week. They typically are available Tuesday afternoons.

There are also security and critical updates that can be released daily.

How does it work?

The security updates are downloaded onto your computer and any security problems are patched up.

How to update your security:

You can either do this manually or automatically and either way, it is very simple:

2. Find “Windows Update”

3. Choose “Check for Updates”

4. Your computer will either be updated or you will be given the option to update your computer. If it is updated, you will see a message like this:

(If you see this message your setting are most likely set to be automatically updated)

If you do not receive this message, then Windows will prompt you to update your system, which includes your security updates.

If your updates are not already automatic, changing your setting to make updates occur automatically is simple:

From the Windows Update menu, go to “Change settings” and from here, you can configure automatic updates.

If you do not want your updates to occur automatically, then go to “Let me choose my settings” and configure your settings how you prefer.

From here, you are given a variety of options to update your settings:

If you have a system administrator, such as Networks Unlimited, then chances are these updates are handled for you. If your setting are pre-set, your screen will appear like this:

These screen shots are from a Windows 7 machine. If you have a different machine and need help, just ask . I can also provide Windows 8 screen shots- just ask!

Easily Correct ‘Error Message’ on Internet

If you have ever repeatedly had an error message appear when you are simply trying to visit a website, you know just how frustrating this can be. Clearing you cache is a potential quick fix that oh-so-annoying error message.

But first, here is a little background:

What is cache? Cache is simply stored internet files from websites.

What is caches’ purpose? To make your internet browsing faster.

How does it work? Instead of downloading files from the internet each time you visit a website, your browser stores internet files on your actual computer. Because the websites’ contents are already on your computer, and they do not have to be downloaded each time; cache speeds up your internet browsing experience.

Here is how to clear your cache from a Windows 7 computer:

You can clear cache from your browser and from your computer. Because not all browsers are the same, this is how you clear cache from your computer:

(This will clear saved user names and passwords you have stored)

Go to your control panel

Choose “delete…” and choose all options.

This should fix an error message while on the internet, among other things, by clearing old data. This will also free up some space on your hard drive.

If an error message continues after clearing your cache, you can contact our help desk at 970-248-0711. (regular charges do apply)

Save your Identity with a Strong Password

Do you have “password” or “123456” as your password? According to CBS news these are two of the most common passwords. Here are some tips on creating strong passwords to prevent security breaches. Thieves have complex software that can find password combinations of words but the more nonsense and longer a password, the more difficult to break.

1. Use nonsense

Thinking of a strong password can be challenging but a helpful way is to create a sentence and use the first letter of each word. For instance,  the sentence, “This is how you can create a strong password to save your identity” would translate to “tihyccasptsyi”

 

 

2. Your password should be more than 8 characters long

The longer the password, especially if it is nonsense, the harder to break.

 

 

 

3. Use $pecial ¢haracters and numbers

Using these within your password may be difficult but it is worth the extra security.

 

 

 

 

It is highly recommended to use different passwords for each site. managing passwords can be difficult and challenging to remember. However there are tools to help you remember. PC suggests 6 password managers to help you track all your different passwords.

If you are hesitant to use a password manager. You can incorporate the site that you are logging in to as a part of the password. For example, lets use “tihyccasptsyi” from earlier. Following the rules above, let’s add some special characters and numbers.”tihyccasptsyi” will now become  T!hyCcasptsy! after the password-strengthening additions.. The trick is now adding either a prefix, suffix, or the domain name from the site that you are logging into as a part of the password. For instance, if you are logging into ebay, a good password might be T!hyCcasptsy!@ebay. The root of your password remains the same, making remembering much easier. However, your password is never the same for multiple platforms because it incorporates the name of the site you are logging into in some way. Here is an example of how you would use the same root password for multiple accounts. The full name of the domain is used if it is one full word and the prefix is used if the domain is 2 words. If you use a system similar to this, you will learn create and adopt your own unique method.

Wells Fargo	T!hyCcasptsy!@wells
Gmail	T!hyCcasptsy!@gmail
Facebook	T!hyCcasptsy!@face
Twitter	T!hyCcasptsy!@twitter
Godaddy	T!hyCcasptsy!@go

Unfortunately, cyber attacks are a prominent and growing part of the modern conveniences that the internet brings . However, after following these simple rules, you can drastically improve the security of your accounts.

Windows 7 Navigation for Windows 8

The latest version of Windows, Windows 8, is void of a start menu that was popular with previous versions of Windows. Many users that now have Windows 8 miss navigating through their computers the way they did with previous versions of  Windows.

Thanks to Classic Start, users are now able to have a start menu as they did before. This app allows Windows 8 users to have the Windows 7, XP or Vista start menus for Windows 8. Computers will still have the squares of Windows 8, but this app brings back the functionality of the earlier Windows’ start menus. This free app has become a popular alternative to navigating through Windows 8.

To get this app, just go to www.ninite.com

This website provides a list of other helpful apps, but this is where you will find ” Classic Start Shell Win8″ start menu.

1.Scroll down the page until you find the classic start shell win8 start menu.

The app button looks like this:

2. Click on the icon and scroll to the bottom of the page and click the “get installer” button

After you click the get installer button, it will download on your computer.

3. You will then click on “Run” when prompted:

Soon, you will be enjoying navigating through your computer as you once did with previous versions of Windows.