Here are some valuable tips that I have identified as useful and beneficial, particularly those that can help save money. Computer Lesson Sussex aims to continually provide helpful tips to assist you.
Freeware
Were you aware that there is a wide array of freeware available for us to use? Personally, I have never bought antivirus software as there are numerous free alternatives that can be downloaded and used.
Phishing
Phishing is when attackers attempt to trick users into doing 'the wrong thing', such as clicking a bad link that will download malware, or direct them to a dodgy website. (NCSC.GOV.UK, 2023).
Phishing can be conducted via a text message, social media, or by phone, but the term 'phishing' is mainly used to describe attacks that arrive by email. Phishing emails can reach millions of users directly, and hide amongst the huge number of benign emails that busy users receive. Attacks can install malware (such as ransomware), sabotage systems, or steal intellectual property and money.
Click here to see two phishing email examples which show what to look out for.
Notifications
"Sandra, can you please stop all these messages constantly appearing on my computer?" There is a massive overload of system messages, also known as notifications. It can be quite irritating to receive constant updates and news alerts from the system. This is typically one of the initial aspects I address when assisting a new student. However, it's crucial not to disable all notifications. It is important to determine which ones are essential and which ones can be switched off.