I have a lot of e-mail, documents and pictures on my computer and I am always worried that I might lose them. Is there any way to make sure that doesn't happen?
    We've touched on this topic in OCW Insider in the past but it certainly bears repeating. As sure as night follows day, you can be absolutely sure that at some point in the future your computer will permanently fail! The good news is that there are several ways you can keep that inevitable failure from swallowing up years of memories and important files. We call them "backup strategies."
   The simplest strategy is simply to drag and drop copies of important files onto an inexpensive disk key or thumb drive. The trick is knowing what files to copy and remembering to do so. So for most folks, the best backup strategy is one that is automatic (you don't have to think about it), regular (it happens on a recurring schedule so that both new and old files are secured) and reliable (all of those important files are included and easily available when that inevitable failure occurs).
   The automatic and regular parts aren't a problem, as both Windows and Macintosh computers have backup utilities built in that with a few clicks of the mouse, can be set up to execute on a user-specified interval. While a disk key or thumb drive can be used as the backup destination with these utilities, they have limited capacity. Instead, we recommend investing in a USB powered small portable harddrive for backup purposes. The cost of these devices is less than $100 and can be purchased easily at places like Wal-Mart and Staples. When they finally get full, you can either erase and reuse them or put them into a safe deposit box for longterm storage and replaced.
   While portable harddrives are generally quite reliable, they also can fail unexpectedly. The computer will notify you if such a failure occurs and all that is necessary is the purchase of a replacement drive. However, some folks desire a higher level of reliability and this usually entails purchase of an external backup service that saves user files to a remote server out on the Internet. Online services such a "Carbonite," "BackBlaze," "CrashPlan" and others maintain sophisticated and redundant systems that virtually guarantee their reliability. Their costs vary and are based on various factors including how much data is backed up, how frequently and how quickly. Still, by being physically removed from the client's computer, they offer a potential level of safety and security that a local file backup scheme can't match.
   We can help you evaluate your backup options and help protect those "die if I lost 'em" items on your computer.

Do I really need antivirus software on my computer and, if so, what is the best kind?
    These days it really a good idea to have antivirus software on any computer which connects to the Internet. This includes both PCs and Macs. This is true even though there is absolutely no antivirus program available that can absolutely protect a computer from being compromised. Still, some protection is better than none at all.
    It is easiest to group all of the potential attacks on a computer under the broad concept of "malware." Experts make distinctions betamong viruses, trojans, spyware, adware and other categories, but the simple fact is that you don't want any kind of malware on your computer. Malware can range from an abundance of unwanted onscreen ads for products you neither want nor need, to a lock on all of your personal files which can only be opened by paying an extortionist a ransom for their return. In between those extremes are a host of other undesireable and aggravating symptoms that slow down the computer and make it almost impossible to use.
   Given that our experience no antivirus program works perfectly, what do we recommend? While paid software such as Norton and McAfee Antivirus work veery well and offer some benefits beyond virus protection, we've found that there are some quite reliable free alternatives for both Mac and PC users. The best we've encountered include Avira Free for Macintosh users and AVG Free for PC users. Both are easy to install, they automatically update themselves on a regular basis without user intervention, they run quietly and effectively in the background, and they have minimal impact on routine computer performance.
   Another piece of free software you may want to acquire specializes in seeking out and remediating mild malware intrusions that, for various reasons, anti-virus software frequently fails to block initially. The program is called "Malwarebytes" and has both Macintosh and PC versions. Please note that the PC version will offer a paid option which most users really do not need. As always, only download the software from the vendor website directly (avira.com, avg.com and malwarebytes.com, respectively) and not through a third party offering.
   If you are reluctant to install antivirus software on your own or if you fear your computer may already be compromised, don't hesitate to give us a call for assistance!

I have a gmail e-mail account and I just received a notification from Google that "Someone has your password" and they have blocked access to the account. Have I been hacked? What should I do?
   The answer to your first question is: maybe. Or maybe not... Of all the vendors of "free" e-mail accounts, Google probably has the most stringent safeguards in place to prevent misuse of their e-mail service. Their system constantly monitors user log-ins and anytime something out of the ordinary is detected, Google errs on the side of caution and blocks additional log-in attempts until the account owner is notified and given a chance to review the situation. This is why Google asks account holders to provide an alternate e-mail address and text messaging phone number to deliver the notification.
    It is certainly quite possible that some miscreant out on the Internet has attempted to compromise your gmail account and you should never ignore one of these messages from Google. But it is important to know that several things other than hacking can trigger a Google alert. If you check your gmail account with your cell phone or tablet, there are circumstances when a check for mail may raise a Google alert. The most common circumstance is a mailcheck occurs while connected to a wi-fi access point that appears to be in a different geographical location from the phone. Many large retailers and other vendors (Wal-Mart and Sam's Club come to mind) frequently route their free wi-fi through a corporate server located offsite. So, for example, if your phone's on-board "location services" say it is in Seneca but is getting wi-fi from another location, that situation can trigger a gmail alert. (That actually happened to me just last month!).
    While it can be a little daunting for you to implement initially, you may want to accept Google's offer to set up what is known as "two-step authentication." This system adds an additional level of confidence that your device (cell phone, tablet and/or computer) is really yours and is authorized to interact with your gmail. Once set up, it doesn't need to be updated. It also can be used to deauthorize a device remotely should it be lost or stolen. Using Google's two-step authentication virtually guarantees the only time you get a "Someone has your password" alert is when something truly suspicious occurs. After getting the bogus alert this week, I decided to go on and set up two-step authentication on the Mail app on both my Mac and my iPhone.
    So if you get a gmail alert and you only check Google e-mail from your home computer, that would be reason to be concerned. In such a case, at a minimum the best thing to do would be to follow Google's instructions about changing your password before unblocking access to your account.Setting up the two-step authentication approach would be a better longterm strategy.
    If you ever have security concerns regarding your e-mail or any other Internet-related accounts, don't be too quick to dismiss them as unimportant! We will gladly help you review the situation and offer advice on the appropriate course of action to keep your personal information secure.

By the way...
    Please note on the bottom of this message that we have begun using the services of "MailChimp" to handle distribution of OCW Insider. Please rest assured that we have no intentions of sharing our subscriber list with anyone, so you don't have to worry that this will somehow lead to more SPAM e-mail. This change simply makes adding and removing subscribers easier for both us and our valued clients! Thanks.