INFORMATION AFFAIRS     Some tips on keeping your computer clean     Worry about Attachments : In general, be very suspicious of attachments. Never click on attachments (or on popup menus) unless you absolutely know where they come from. If you don't, assume that they carry a virus and will harm your computer. Anti-virus software : Make sure your computer is running an anti-virus software and that it is up to date. If the software isn't kept up to date then new viruses will be able to infect your computer. Update Windows Often : Make sure your Windows operating system is up to date by going to Windows Update regularly. Agree to the disclaimer, and click the "Express" button to see if you need updates. Eliminate unnecessary start-up programs : Click Start -->Run. In the Open: text box type msconfig. Click the Startup tab. You can eliminate all or some of the items by un-checking them, particularly those that do not appear necessary. Be considerate of all users by following the College's User Policies : This means no downloading or file sharing of music and videos. These downloads significantly impact the performance of the network, are illegal in most cases, and violate the User Policies. Many of the file sharing programs contain adware/spyware and viruses that compromise the security and functionality of your computer. Don't download "free" programs : These so-called free programs often contain adware/spyware that install with the program. If you need to install these programs read the End User License Agreement (EULA) carefully to see if the program installs other programs with it. When installing, look at the installation options. Occasionally there are options for selecting not to install the adware with the program. When in doubt look up the program reviews on www.download.com or search in Google to see if it contains spyware.