I'm offering my services to the members of UM, to assist with any computer problems that you currently have. This is what I do for a living, so I have plenty of experience. I'll make sure that your system is running, so that you can have your UM fix.

Anyone else who's savy in using computers, is free to provide feedback for others. I will try my best to answer all questions, and hopefully find a fix. Also, since I get security alerts and tips, before they are released to the public, I will post any inside information I know, so that everyone is aware of upcoming viruses and attacks, and the best way to protect yourselves from it.

Here's some basic information, I posted on a different thread to get you started, on some basics for safeguarding your home pc.

1. Trust no one! A lot of virus writers are able to spoof your friends e-mail addresses and make it seem like the content is legit. Then you download the joke, and you have yourself a virus. Always check your e-mail carefully and confirm with friends that you truly received a message from them. Same thing applies to websites. If it looks suspicious, don't download anything from it. Under any circumstance click on an Ad.

2. P2P networks can be dangerous. A lot of P2P software does install spyware, if you're going to use these make sure you know how to install them properly so that you can get rid of the spyware. If anything run AdAware or Spybot S&D after you install the software, to make sure you get rid of anything else you've missed.

3. Whether you're on dial up or high speed cable. Get a firewall. If you have a router with a firewall, that's an even a better option. You don't have to buy one, there are multiple firewalls you can download from the web for free! ZoneAlarm is recommended. If you have Windows XP SP2, their new firewall interface has been improved. The reason for the firewall, is that Spyware tries to capture information from your computer and sends it back home. The firewall "closes" all doors going out and coming in. So you have to tell the firewall to allow programs to exit.

4. Buy Anti-Virus software. Of course the popular ones will do like Norton and McAfee. Also these versions have Spyware protection, so you're getting a good deal. This will save you from having to rebuild a system and keep your system safe and trouble free.

5. Last and most important. Stay up to date with the latest patches on everything. OS, Anti-Virus, etc.. This will keep you from, being vulnerable to the latest exploits.

A lot of folks may already know this information, but you'd be surprised how many home users don't know how to protect themselves. They think, all they need is a Anti-Virus. Unfortunately it takes more than that.

Anyone from the Mod Team, is there anyway this can be pinned?