Chapter 11

Hone Your Computer Survival Skills

In an age of always-on PCs connected to the open Internet at high speed, rogue software tries to install itself on your computer at every turn. Viruses sent via email with inviting subject lines such as “Christina Hendricks pics ;)” and “I love you” threaten home computers and entire office networks. Pushy programs put themselves in your computer’s startup process and slow down overall performance. Toolbars install themselves in your web browser and redirect you to advertising websites. Your nine-year-old downloads and installs malicious software that looks a lot like Tetris on your PC. Your toddler gets hold of the mouse and ....