Safeguard Your Valuables

Protect your computer, your home electronics, and your memories with this week's tips. Plus, a whole new take on Stephen King's "The Shining."

Steve Bass

Steve Bass writes PC World's monthly "Hassle-Free PC" column and is the author of PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer, available from O'Reilly. He also writes PC World's daily Tips & Tweaks blog. Sign up to have Steve's newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Comments or questions? Send Steve e-mail.

What with all the Internet threats and natural disasters in the news these days, I've been worrying about you. How well do you protect your computer against spyware and viruses? What do you do to keep your home office safe from power surges and the like?

We all know it's a good idea to run anti-spyware programs periodically and to use surge protectors for our office equipment (right?). But lately I've been thinking it's time for a refresher course on the software and hardware you need to keep all your valuable equipment safe.

Protect Your PC From Spyware

First off, let me be blunt: You're crazy if you're not protecting yourself with an anti-spyware tool. For our latest review, read "Best Defenders." Also, check out PC World's Spyware & Security Info Center for news and more product reviews.

And what are the experts doing about this, you might ask? Read "Industry Group Tackles Spyware" for insight into the workings of the Anti-Spyware Coalition.

As for anti-spyware packages, I have my favorites: Sunbelt's CounterSpy, with Webroot's Spy Sweeper a close second.

Anti-Spyware Tip: Instead of using your anti-spyware program's Remove option to blast every threat to smithereens, select Quarantine. A spyware program may use a DLL (a helper program) from a legitimate app. If that happens and you delete all the files flagged as threats, your legit program may not load. If you chose Quarantine, the DLL can be restored.

Dig This: I like good stereo equipment, but that's not saying I have any. It's still fun browsing around EBay and other sites for info on the high-end stuff. The last time I was poking around I ran into a page of links with really high-end equipment.

Protect Your Home From Power Surges

Last year a duck hit a power pole about 20 miles from my home. No sweat, I thought: My PC and all of the peripherals are protected. The PC has an uninterruptible power supply and everything else in my office runs through surge protectors.

When the power came back on, it surged through the house and fried the circuit board on the air conditioning/heating unit--to the tune of about $400. Later, I heard from a friend who said a squirrel got into the power transformer outside her house. She lost about $2000 worth of electronic stuff.

After all that, I ran out and got myself a whole-house surge protector from APC. At $270, it's mighty expensive, and the electrician charged another $100 to install it. But folks, it's cheaper than replacing sizzled equipment.

Dig This: Have you ever wondered how missile guidance systems work? Wonder no more; this audio clip from an old U.S. Air Force ICBM training film demystifies the process.

Protect Your Memories From Yourself

The fact is, I'm getting older. I forget things. When I walk the dogs in the morning, I get all these great ideas--that I promptly forget once I'm back home. So I started carrying around a digital voice recorder.

I'm using the Olympus WS-320M (about $230). It has a gigabyte of RAM, enough for between 35 and 277 hours of recordings, depending on the sound quality. I can take podcasts and music along to the gym and on trips, and with a flick of a switch, record voice memos. It has a USB connection so transferring music and podcasts is a snap, and I can also use it to store data too.

BTW, if you're not going to play music, just want to quickly record voice notes, and don't need a fancy USB connection, you can get away with paying about $30 for the VN-240: It gives you 4 hours of recording time, and it has enough features for most business users. Check our Product Finder for specs and pricing.

For more options, read Jim Martin's "More on Voice Recorders."

Dig This: Do you remember the 1980 Stanley Kubrick film The Shining? A writer and his family are isolated for the winter at a mountain resort hotel, and all kinds of spooky things occur. But when the trailer is done differently, it gives an entirely new meaning to the film.