Page 249 - DCAP104_EXPOSURE_TO_COMPUTER_DISCPLINES

Exposure to Computer Disciplines

Notes Another finger fault problem arises with touchpads below the space bar on notebook computers.
It’s very easy to brush the touchpad when you are typing away and suddenly find yourself entering
characters in a screen location very different from where you were before you touched the pad.

Solution: Be careful and look up now and again to make certain your cursor is where you want it.
13.3.4 Malicious or Careless Damage

Someone may accidentally or deliberately delete or change a file on your PC when you’re not
around. If you don’t keep your PC locked in a safe, then this is a risk. Who knows what was
changed or deleted? Wouldn’t it be nice to know if anything changed over the weekend? Most of
this type of damage is done unintentionally by someone you probably know. This person didn’t
mean to cause trouble; they simply didn’t know what they were doing when they used your PC.
Solution: Never run the computer as an administrative user and have guest accounts available
for others who use the computer. Keep up-to-date backups as well.
13.3.5 Typhoid Mary

One possible source for computer infections is the Customer Engineer (CE), or repairman. When a
CE comes for a service call, they will almost always run a diagnostic program from diskette. It’s
very easy for these diskettes to become infected and spread the infection to your computer. Sales
representatives showing demonstrations via floppy disks are also possibly spreading viruses.
Always check your system after other people have placed their floppy disk into it. (Better yet, if
you can, check their disk with up-to-date anti-virus software before anything is run.)

Solution: Insist on testing their disk before use or make certain they’ve used an up-to-date anti-
virus before coming to your location.

13.3.6 Magnetic Zaps
Computer data is generally stored as a series of magnetic changes on disks. While hard disks
are generally safe from most magnetic threats because they are encased within the computer
compartment, floppy disks are highly vulnerable to magnets. The obvious threat would be to post
a floppy disk to the refrigerator with a magnet; but there are many other, more subtle, threats.

Some of the more subtle sources of magnetism include:
(a) Computer Monitor. Don’t put floppy disks anywhere near the monitor; it generates a
magnetic field.
(b) Telephone. When ringing, telephones (particularly older phones with a bell) generate a
magnetic field.
(c) Bottom Desk Drawer. While the desk drawer does not generate a magnetic field, the vacuum
cleaner that the maintenance people slide under the desk to clean the floor does.
(d) Bottom Bookcase Shelf and File Cabinet Drawer. Same comment as the desk drawer just
above.
(e) Pets. Pet fur generates a strong electrostatic charge which, if discharged through a disk,
can affect files on the disk. Instead of “The dog ate my homework,” today it could just as
easily be: “The cat sat on my homework.” (I once had a student where this exact problem
happened; a cat sat on her floppy disk and static wiped out the data on the disk.)
Solution: Stay away from magnets or sources of static of all kinds when working with a computer.

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