7 Bad Computer Habits of Office Workers And The Steps To Correct Them
In today’s society, with so much criminal activity taking place, it is very important to consider security when operating a computer in an office setting. This article discusses 7 bad habits that I have recognized during my experience as an IT professional and some of the corrective measures that should be put in place.
1) Failing to set passwords - Anything that is not public should be privately secured by setting a password. In a few simple steps, a password can be created for entire folders or for single files. This will prevent any user who doesn’t have a password from accessing private material.
2) Creating passwords that are easily guessed or common - If you create a password that is too easily guessed, you might as well not set one at all. It’s like having a lock on your doors at home and leaving a key in the door so all people have to do is turn the key and come in. Passwords are designed to keep people out. Using common passwords such as “password” or “123456″ just isn’t smart. Take some time and put together a password that will take some effort for even you to remember.
3) Placing passwords near the computer - If all someone has to do is move you keyboard to find a sticky-note that contains your password, you haven’t really slowed them down much. I’ve seen passwords taped to the side of computers, taped under the monitor, and in so many other places. The best place for a computer password is in your mind.
4) Not locking the computer - All it takes is a few minutes and someone can access your computer, get what they need, and get away undetected. Whenever leaving your computer, lock it. As an additional step, it’s a good idea to set a password along with the screensaver. That way if the screensaver comes up after 2 minutes, a password is needed to log back in. This may prove annoying sometimes, but it is worth it to have security.
5) Downloading without caution - Computers were not made to handle every download that a user could think of. Many users download many different types of software, file sharing programs, instant messengers, and more, much of which they rarely use. It’s a good idea to think about if it is really worth downloading certain programs. If the software is illegal, you can face legal penalties and additional risks.
6) Ignoring software updates - If software has a built-in feature to notify you when there are updates that need to be made, don’t ignore them, just install the updates. If there is a virus that is being released, being notified that there is an update for your virus protection software won’t help if you don’t download it.
7) Not reporting problems in a timely fashion - As soon as you experience odd behavior on your computer, it’s time to report it to the proper IT staff members. They may be able to keep an eye out for things and perform preventative maintenance. This would save both time and money.
These are just seven of the bad habits that computer users can develop. By simply correcting a few of these areas, users can experience a greater level of security while operating their computers each day.
Devin Dabney is a computer consultant, author, speaker, and entrepreneur who is the founder and CEO of DabneyWorks Computer Consulting. DabneyWorks provides remote and in-person computer assistance , website design and auditing, and business consultation.
For more information, visit http://www.dabneyworks.com