efore purchasing new computers and monitors, check the EPEAT registry at http://www.epeat.net for energy consumption levels and other environmental indicators. This is similar to checking the energy usage for home appliances before buying. The EPEAT uses the IEEE 1680 standard, the first US standard of environmental guidelines, for desktops, laptops and monitors.
As individuals before buying, check energy usage with the Energy Star 4.0 ratings at the Environmental Protection Agency http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/plugin. When you are recycling or discarding your old computers, visit the E-cycling Central website http://www.eiae.org by the Electronic Industries Alliance. Remember also to do one of two things: either use a product such as cyberCide http://www.cyberscrub.com so your personal information is not found somewhere on the hard drive in case your computer isn't immediately destroyed or remove the hard drive and physically hammer it so the hard drive is irreversibly unusable.
Be Aware of Fraud
Seniors as a group are targeted for fraud more than any other group. Predators target minors as a group more than any other group. Both seniors and minors typically have a trusting nature that can be manipulated by criminals.
Be aware of offers or information you receive online in chatrooms, forums, newsgroups, websites or email that could result in someone you have not met in person to visit your home or office. Be aware of someone online asking you to attend a meeting or gathering. Also be aware of supposedly a company or someone requiring your immediate online response with details of your financial, banking, credit or social security information. These are most likely scams.
Prevent Computer Infections
Be aware of infections circulating in your community (such as the flu), in your email, phone, text messaging programs, chatrooms and on the internet. Use preventative measures to avoid infection by using anti-virus and anti-spyware software. This will help maintain your privacy and safety.
Some infectors only need you to view the email in the preview pane to begin infection. Other times you do not need to click on a link in the email or an attachment. Sometimes there is no message in the text section of the email. Direct your email program not to automatically open email attachments or display messages and pictures. This reduces the possibility of spammers verifying your email address and infectors automatically installing themselves. Use anti-virus software with all incoming and outgoing email.
Infectors are increasingly targeting personal information. Spammers and infector authors are teaming up for a very profitable and illegal enterprise. With a phishing scam, the victim voluntarily and knowingly gives the money or property to the criminal but would not have done so if the criminal did not make a false representation or misrepresentation.
Install and use more than one anti-virus software and anti-spyware software regularly. You shouldn't use these programs at the same time as it can negatively affect your computer's performance. Be sure to install updates regularly. Let the programs complement each other. Chances are if the infector or malware signature is not too prevalent or the company concentrates on one particular aspect, one company may already have included the infector signature whereas another company may not have done so yet.