Customer Reviews

Bug-Free Computing: Stop Viruses, Squash Worms, and Smash Trojan Horses

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Title: Bug-Free Computing
Author: Ken Dwight
Publisher: The TeleProcessors, Inc.
14300 Cornerstone Village Drive, Suite 321
Houston, TX 77014-1276
Copyright: 2005
ISBN: 0975408542
Pages: 162 plus appendixes
Price: $19.95

If your computer is on and you are connected to the Internet then sooner or later it will become infected. These days you don't have to open attachments, download a file, or even surf the web to become infected; just being connected can make you a target. In his book Bug-Free Computing, Ken Dwight educates the reader about the history of the many threats to safe computing and what you can do to make your computer experience as safe as possible. Some of the information will be surprising to most people including the fact that most infections occur on a system that has anti-virus software installed. To keep bug-free he discusses anti-virus software, using a firewall, spam filtering, and a host of other techniques to increase your safety. And, of course he includes a section on what to do if you are already infected. Written in a very easy to understand style, Bug-Free Computing is highly recommended to the everyday user who wants to understand the computing environment and how to work on their computer without stressing about infections.

Bug-Free Computing, by Ken Dwight, who calls himself "The Virus Doctor," is a book that could be very important to business people who depend on their computers to make a living and worry about a virus or other malevolent software designed to attack a computer and bring it down.

If this concerns you, but you have no real idea how to deal with it, Dwight's book is a solid primer designed for the average computer user. You don't have to be a geek to understand it, it's written in plain English, with a minimum of technical jargon. For example, in a chapter devoted to data backups, readers will be delighted to find information specifically tailored to the average user - what to back up, when, how, what media to use, what programs to use, etc.

Viruses are a primary focus of the book; most computer users are aware of viruses and their potential to do harm, but what many users don't understand, even technicians, is that viruses have changed greatly in the past few years in terms of virus behavior and distribution, so it's extremely important to keep up with and be aware of these differences.

Bug-Free Computing also discusses spyware, browser hijackers, keyloggers, spam, hoaxes, urban legends and other possible computer problems. You don't have to read the book cover-to-cover to get the help you need. The reader can take a look at the table of contents to discern the chapter that covers their most pressing concerns, and quickly flip to that chapter.

In addition, the text includes hyperlinks to various web sites and articles referenced in the book. If the reader desires more information than what is presented in Dwight's book, the links will provide more detail and even direct the reader to vendors of products mentioned in the book. Also, the information contained in the appendices is extremely helpful; the most useful is the ability to keep the information up-to-date from the Book Registration web site.

While the subject of programs that can damage your computer is a serious one, Dwight offers a light-hearted detour in the form of a section on hoaxes and urban legends. This section is good for a few chuckles before returning to the grim realities of dealing with computer problems.

Dwight's style is easy and disarming, making for a pleasant read, even for technophobes. For example, in the chapter on spam, he shows users how to read message headers and footers to find clues to the real identity of the sender and how to use filters to cut down on your spam email. He also explains that it's not a good idea to click on the "Remove Me" link that is included in some spam emails; that action could possibly increase your email rather than decrease it.

Ken Dwight's book is chock-full of common-sense pointers, making it an excellent choice for those who want to protect their computers without hiring expensive consultants.

Mr. Dwight draws on his 40 years of computer experience to present a lucid explanation of the inner workings of PC programs and how they are affected by viruses and other malicious programming. His technical explanations are easy to follow and understand, even for the novice PC user. His book has clear screen-shots of typical Windows options, and he carefully explains why and how to optimize Windows for maximum operating efficiency and security. His book is essential reading for anyone who has a PC connected to the Internet. I am an accomplished user, but I am not an expert, and I found his many hints and suggested settings to be excellent methods of improving my PC's protection. I purchased several copies to give to family and friends because I found his advice invaluable.

This is a great book for anyone who has a computer. The book is arranged well, starting with an overview of computer viruses and how they originate, pass from machine to machine and work. It gives a brief insight as to the type of person who creates this havoc.

Most importantly, it gives us the information that we need to minimize our exposure to computer viruses and what to do if/when we get infected. I will definitely keep my virus and firewall protection up to date.

At the end of 2008, be aware that this book is a bit outdated in his content.