Things People Do that Ruin Computers (And Suggestions to Keep Your Computer Safe)

Computers are becoming a near necessity in order to survive in today's society. Sure, at this point, there are a few hold-outs who don't have computers yet or who don't use their computer all that often but in general, most people need and use their computers on a near daily basis.

Unfortunately, out of those same people, I'd venture to guess the majority of them don't know how to properly handle and maintain a computer to keep it in optimal performance range. I work on computers, sometimes at the user-end, and I am generally amazed at how people will often take better care of a toaster than they do their computer.

As such, I've compiled a list of the most common things I see folks do that could ruin their computers and offer suggestions to help keep your computer safer.

#1 Way to Ruin a Computer: Plug it into the Wall

Inside that sturdy looking box your computer has is a sophisticated and very delicate set of boards that are easily 'fried' by a small power surge in your home. It is amazing how a simple little dimming of the lights can completely destroy your computer, but it can.

In fact, if you can get a power surge UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply/Source) all the better, but at the very least a $10-15 power surge plug protector can make the difference between having a working computer or a very large, dead paperweight. A UPS goes one step further than a power surge plug, usually giving you a short time with power from a battery backup should the power go out, so you can safely shut down your computer and save any work you were doing.

#2 Way to Ruin a Computer: Don't Use Virus Protection or Use Expired Virus Protection

Viruses exist, and it doesn't matter if you surf the web or not, if you have an email account, share files, or load programs you are potentially at risk. Every computer that connects to the internet or shares files need an up-to-date virus protection software. Money isn't an excuse for running a computer without virus protection either, since the cost of the anti-virus program is much less than the cost of repairing or replacing the computer if it gets infected.

If money is an object though, Google for a product called AVG. There is a full functional free anti-virus program and email scanner available, and I highly recommend it. In fact, I use it myself on all my own home computers.

Don't neglect ad-aware and mal-ware protection programs too, like Lavasoft AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy. These are also free, and are safe to use. Be sure to download only from the official sites for these products though and not from a download site where virus might actually be attached to the downloads.

#3 Way to Ruin Your Computer: Open Attachments and Click Links from Unknown Sources

For some folks, clicking an email link or reading an email attachment from someone is akin to having to answer the phone when it rings. Sometimes, it's better to let the phone ring and sometimes it's best to delete an email unopened.

Rule of thumb here: If you do not personally know the sender, don't open the email. Don't ever click a link from an email you receive, even if you think you know the sender. Phishing and spamming sites will often look official, and sometimes even use graphics and logos from trusted sites to send their emails, but the link you click is bogus.

As for attachments, just don't do it unless you know the person, and even then be sure to run a virus scan on the attachments prior to opening them.

#4 Way to Ruin Your Computer: No Firewall and Non-secured Wireless Computing

When you purchase a wireless router or modem or use one from your internet service provider, you need to be sure that your wireless network is protected, in three different ways: firewall, password protected, and user authentication.

Good routers and modems have their own little internal firewalls, as well as running a firewall program, either through Windows or through your own firewall/anti-virus programs, offers maximum protection. Next, be sure that the wireless modem/and or wireless router requires the user to enter a password in order to connect to the wireless internet.

Lastly, and this one might be more difficult to set up but it's very important, set your wireless network to only allow authenticated computers. Generally speaking, the computers you use in your home will already be authenticated to the network so you won't have to take extra steps, but if someone were to try to access your connection from outside the house, even if they hacked the password, they couldn't authenticate their computer on your network.

#5 Way to Ruin Your Computer: Not Backing Up Data and Important Files

Even when you take the best care of your computer, data can become corrupt, you can catch a virus, and things can go wrong. If you back your computer data up regularly, you won't miss too much if something does go wrong with your computer and it has to be wiped out or replaced.

My wife regularly emails important files to herself on a web-based account, like Gmail, and also uses this as a picture storage location so her hard drive isn't so full. We both back up the computers in the house to a tape drive at least once per week. Windows offers a backup that in theory is supposed to allow you to restore everything on your computer, programs and all.

Whatever method of backup works for you, be sure to back up your data and important files just in case.

Of course, keeping your hard drive from becoming full with pictures, music, graphics, files and such you are no longer using or needing can help your computer run faster. Also, defragmenting and performing regular maintenance tasks on your computer can keep it running at peak efficiency as well.

If you are not familiar with how to do any of these things, it might be worth it to pay for a class, pick up a book, or take the computer to an authorized service location once or twice per year to have the computer cleaned up and assess the damage. This cleanup service shouldn't cost very much at all, and some local office supply stores even offer some remote assessment services for cheap.

A few bucks now to save hundreds or even thousands of dollars in replacement, repair or lost time and data is well worth it to keep your computer running as best it can.