So what is a computer?
A computer consists of several components, both internal and external, and these components are normally referred to as hardware. Hardware is anything that you can touch. The basic components inside are a motherboard, power supply, some form of memory, and cables that connect each part with another. Outside of the tower are the mouse, keyboard, and a monitor of some sort to view the information on. The user can add in speakers, a cd drive, floppy drive, printer, and other components to customize the computing experience for the users needs and wants. Since the creation of the computer, the hardware components have become smaller and more powerful, but have the same titles and purpose.
The information that a user would see on the monitor comes from various programs and operating systems. These are virtual, and can only be seen when the computer is turned on, and is generally referred to as software, but software can be transferred and carried on many forms of hardware and media such as a DVD, CD, USB drive, or an external hard drive. Examples of software are Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Paint, Internet Explorer, World of Warcraft, iTunes, ect. Since the creation of the computer, software and files on computers have gotten larger.
Issues on computers are normally just either hardware or software related, but sometimes can be both, like the computers speed. If your computer is slow, let us look and make suggestions for a tune up. Even if the computer is brand new, it might not get the full performance out of it. Don’t blame this on programs alone. Hardware could also be an issue.
Today’s Computer in the World
In today’s world, business or home, a computer is a must. Schools use them for students to do research, write papers, and learn new skills. Businesses use them for point of sale (POS) at the register, emailing files about customers, sales goals, employee records, invintory control, and other information. At home computers are used for games, movies, home business, school homework, and several other things.
A computer is a must in most places today. With out it, the world would be a very different place. The information that is transferred and stored several billion times everyday is priceless. If that data is lost several million people could be out of work. That is why it is important to be safe when using a computer.
There are several things to watch out for. Rogue programs, unsafe websites, and suspicious emails top the list. You can read more about rogue programs here, or just click the “Viruses?” link on the side.
An unsafe website is a website that you don’t recognize or sounds foreign. Looking up pictures or videos is on of the top ways to find yourself on one of these sites. While a majority of web pages you might come across are safe, some websites out there have hidden viruses or spyware. Just clicking on these sites could infect your computer, even if you don’t click any link on the site itself. The best way to avoid these sites is to look at the address. Trusted sites are the ones that people talk about everyday like google, youtube, and others. If the address looks suspicious then it probably is.
Emails and Scams
Suspicious emails are the next thing to watch out for. Clicking or opening up one of these emails could be the same as clicking on a website you don’t know or trust. The email could infect the computer with a virus even if you don’t click on any link in the email. Email scams are another. Watch out for people offering jobs or money. If you don’t recognize the company, do some research and see if it is legitimate. The FBI or government will never ask for your personal information unless you are applying for a job in person.
Scams for money are another big issue in the world. While we would all like to have a rich relative in Nigeria or somewhere in Africa, it is not likely. The basic scam is the email asking for personal information like social security number, age, sex address, ect. The more elaborate scams ask the person to cash checks, and send a percent back. Even though there are many more scams, the third that is big is someone asking you to receive a package for them and ship it to another country. These packages are bought with stolen credit card numbers and shipped to people in the United States. These people then spend their own money to ship the package to another country.