This is a six week class offered as two 3-week courses.  Each half stands alone, it is not necessary to take Part 1 before taking Part 2.

• The cost is $150 for three classes 
• The class is given at the Continuing Education Division of Hunter College in New York City
• Read the course description on the Hunter web site for Section I class 619 and Section II class 1404
• Hunter Campus maps: Adobe Acrobat format or GIF format. 

Defensive Computing is for people to whom the health and well being of their computer and/or data is important.

Using a car analogy, this is not a learn to drive class. It assumes you know something about cars and teaches how to test the oil level, when to change the oil, the various types of oil, what the tire pressure should be, how often to test the tire pressure, etc., etc. It is, in effect, the owners manual for a personal computer. 

This is not a class on fixing problems with Windows. Instead, it is geared to preparation work you need to do so that problems can be avoided, minimized, worked around or bypassed. If you use a computer for something important and want to safeguard it, without becoming a computer expert, this is the class for you.

This class is for:

• Someone working at home, depending on their computer to generate income
• Someone who works in an office, but often has to take work home, especially work that has to be done on a deadline.
• Someone working in a small office without a computer expert on staff
• A computer neophyte depending on friends or relatives for technical support. This class can go a long way to making you independent.
• Consider the theft of your computer(s). If it would only be an annoyance, this class is not for you. If it would be a disaster, you are in the right place.

The class covers Windows XP, 2000, 98 and ME. There is a separate handout for each class (of at least 30 pages) so students can spend their time listening rather than writing. Most of the software covered in the class is free – the course might pay for itself.

Pre-requisite: The only prerequisite is some knowledge of how to use a PC. Again, if you want to learn how to use Windows, this is not the class for you. Terminology will not get in the way, the class is as devoid of computer lingo as possible.

Be sure to read Security on the cheap by Alex Eckelberry, President of Sunbelt Software. August 25, 2005

There are five handouts for the six classes. Each handout is 40 pages (or more).

• Introduction
  About the class, Why Defensive Computing? - what is it about Windows and personal computers that makes this class necessary?
• Defensively Installing Software
  Nothing creates as many problems on a computer as installing new software. This topic covers a number of actions that should be taken before and after installing new software to protect you from potential problems. Installing Service Pack 2 for Windows XP.
• Firewalls
  Keep the bad guys out. What is a firewall, why you need one (or two), recommendations on which one to use, how to configure a firewall 
• Browsers
  Customizing Internet Explorer for maximum safety. An introduction to Firefox (a safer and free web browser). What are cookies? Control the use of cookies.
• Bug Fixes
  Applying bug fixes to Windows and other software. Using Windows Update manually and automatically and Office Update.
• Viruses
  Configuring an anti-virus program, Keeping virus protection current, What to do when a virus is found, How to avoid viruses, Overview of anti-virus products, Testing your anti-virus program, Free anti-virus programs (on-line and off-line). Virus Links
• Monitoring Your Computer
  Somewhat akin to the dashboard on a car, the class covers two programs that can be used to monitor activity in your computer. The programs are Task Manager, which is included in Windows, and Process Explorer which is free, much more comprehensive and highly recommended.
• Controlling Programs That Run at Start-up Time
  When Windows starts up, it automatically runs a whole host of programs, many of which you don’t want or need. This makes your computer start slower, run slower and be more likely to crash. Most importantly, some of these programs might be Spyware or Adware or Malware.
• Spyware and Adware
  Spyware and Adware programs are often installed on your computer without your knowledge. They "phone home" and report information about you and/or your computer to a mother ship (really a server computer). Learn how to combat Spyware and Adware programs to protect both your privacy and your computer.
• Defensive Email
  How to avoid viruses, fraud and SPAM. Steps you can take to minimize Spam, a review of a number of anti-spam programs and software recommendations. Time usually does not allow us to get to this topic.
• Backups
  An brief introduction to backing up the files on your computer. A review of my favorite, and free, backup program - Replicator from Karen Kenworthy. For more on backing up your computer, I teach a half day class Backing Up Your Computer.
• Odds and Ends
  Topics from this list are sometimes included too:
• Electricity: Surge Protectors and Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) battery backup
• RAM diagnostic programs 
• Monitor testing and adjusting (both LCD and CRT) 
• Hard disk diagnostic programs 
• Questions to ask when upgrading to Broadband (cable or DSL)
• How fast is your Internet connection?
• Totally erasing a hard disk before getting rid of an old computer
• Defragmenting your hard disk
• File shredding programs - delete files so they can not be recovered 

To help you get a feel for the class:  

• Upgrading Windows is about four approaches to upgrading from an old version of Windows to a new version on the same computer. This topic used to be part of the class, but had to be removed due to time constraints (12 hours is not enough). In a nutshell: don't do it, buy a new computer. This was featured in Fred Langa's newsletter in April 2003.