Is radiation from your PC hurting you?

By Al FasoldtCopyright © 1991, The Syracuse Newspapers

Is your computer killing you?
The answer is almost certainly no. But the fact that such a question is being asked at all shows how worried many of us have become about the danger of radiation coming from our computer screens and VDT monitors. The radiation from monitors and video display terminals may cause cancer and other diseases -- and then again it may not. Nobody knows for sure. But what is known is that everybody should avoid unnecessary risks from this sort of radiation, called VLF and ELF (very low frequency and extremely low frequency) emissions.

That's relatively easy to do, if you use some common sense. Some of the advice I am about to give is simple to follow if you are dealing with a PC in your home. However, you may have to get backing from your co-workers to get your company to make these changes at the office.

Most people who use PCs or video terminals know that sitting too close to the screen increases the danger of radiation. But many do not realize that the sides and rear of the monitor are more dangerous. That means that even if you stay a safe two feet away from your own screen, you could be sitting too close to the side or rear of a co-worker's terminal.

I found just such a situation in my own work group at the office, in which the H-pattern of terminals placed some of the editors just inches from the sides or rear of other monitors. We made a few quick changes in the seating pattern after pointing out the problem to our supervisor.

So the first and most important rule is to keep a safe distance from the front, sides and back of all computer and VDT monitors. You should always be at least 14 inches from the screen, although 24 inches is preferred. And you should be more than 24 inches from the sides and back of any nearby monitor. Next, you should make maximum use of computers that do not have regular, cathode-ray tubes (CRTs). The radiation that is sometimes measured from monitors comes only from parts inside the CRT.

This means that laptop computers, which generally use liquid-crystal diode (LCD) displays, are completely safe alternatives to desktop computers. If you do a lot of computing at home, a modern laptop equipped with a hard-disc drive can be a wise purchase.

At the office, you can make two suggestions. First, ask your supervisor to consider buying high-capacity laptops the next time PCs are purchased; second, ask that the PCs that are used the most be fitted with LCD screens. These are new to desktop PCs and are still fairly expensive, but are sure to become cheaper over the next year or so.

Many companies have installed radiation shields over the screens of the PCs and VDTs in their offices. This can reduce radiation coming from the front.

However, since such shields do not deal with the potentially greater radiation from the sides and back of the monitor, they may give users a false sense of security.

An unrelated danger is repetitive stress syndrome, which usually shows up as stiffness in shoulders, arms and wrists. It can include carpal tunnel syndrome, a potentially crippling wrist condition.

There are many ways of alleviating or avoiding such physical injuries. The simplest is to stay relaxed while typing -- and to take a break as soon as you feel any stiffness. You may find that a wrist rest -- available from computer stores and by mail from computer-supply dealers -- will help support your hands.

As a carpal-tunnel sufferer, I usually am able to type without pain when I use a wrist rest, a pad that sits in front of the keyboard. Your employer should supply wrist rests without cost if you ask for one. (The company's health insurance probably requires such preventive measures when they are requested.) If you do any amount of company work on your home PC, ask for a second wrist rest for that computer, too.

Protecting Your Computer Against Viruses

Protecting Your Computer Against Viruses


What is a computer virus, trojan or adware?
A virus is computer program whose purpose is to propagate itself by traveling from file to file and from computer to computer, often destroying files in the process. Computer viruses spread by several means, including floppy and zip disks, e-mail attachments, web pages, and file-sharing. The best way to prevent viruses from infecting your computer files is to ensure that you have adequate virus-protection software installed on your computer.
A trojan is a computer program whose purpose is to leave the infected computer open for hackers to gain access and install software, look at personal files, or use the computer for illegal purposes. Some trojans are not as harmful as others, but if you do find a trojan on your computer please strongly consider backing up, formatting, and reinstalling Windows. Trojans usually infect computers through unpatched security holes in Windows and Internet Explorer.
Adware and spyware are computer programs that can do a wide range of things. Two of the main purposes are to collect data from your computer and report it back to the company, and to display popup windows of ads whether or not you are viewing websites at the time. These programs can get onto the computer any number of ways. The most common ways are as part of freeware programs such as file sharing programs, by displaying confusing dialog boxes on websites to confuse people into clicking Yes to install them, or through security holes in Internet Explorer while you browse websites.
Because of these dangers, Wellesley College provides VirusScan to protect against Viruses and Trojans, and Ad-Aware to protect against Adware.

How do I install or update my anti-virus software?
Wellesley College provides anti-virus software and virus-definition updates free of charge for all College-owned computers and for all computers owned by Wellesley College students, faculty, and staff. Since new viruses are constantly being discovered, you must keep both your anti-virus software package (McAfee VirusScan or Virex) and your virus definitions (the library of virus descriptions which VirusScan or Virex uses to recognize and remove viruses) up to date and scan your hard drive regularly. To learn how to install or update your anti-virus software or to scan your hard drive for viruses, click the appropriate link below.
Operating System

Anti-virus Software
Windows ME, 98, and 95 - Support ending soon!
VirusScan 4.5.1 SP1
Windows XP and 2000 - Documentation for previous installs only.
VirusScan 8.0
Windows Vista, XP, and 2000
VirusScan 8.5 for Windows
Macintosh OS 8 & 9 - Support ending soon!
Virex 6.1
Macintosh OS X 10.2 and 10.3 - Documentation for previous installs only.
Virex 7.7
Macintosh OS X 10.4, for PowerPC and Intel Macs
VirusScan 8.5 for Macs

How else can I protect my computer against viruses?
You can dramatically reduce your computer's chances of being attacked by viruses by Securing your Computer.


How do I check for and remove Adware and Spyware from my computer?
Anyone who browses the web, uses instant messaging software, or file sharing software with a Windows computer is very likely to have software installed on their computer without their knowledge. Such software, called Spyware and Adware, will slow down the computer or even, in some cases, cause the computer to stop working. In an attempt to help combat this problem, the College has purchased a site license for a program called Ad-Aware that helps track down and remove these programs from your home or office computer. For details about Ad-Aware, see http://www.wellesley.edu/Computing/Ad-aware.


What else is Information Services doing to protect the campus against computer viruses?
Every IS-maintained public computer on campus is equipped with the latest version of VirusScan or Virex, and receives regular virus-definition updates. NTM and other public file servers are also running McAfee VirusScan, and receive regular virus-definition updates.
For additional protection against email viruses, Information Services is using Sophos PureMessage software to scan all email entering Wellesley College's FirstClass email system from the Internet.

What if I think my computer is infected with a virus?
If you have reason to suspect your computer is infected with a virus (you have opened a suspicious e-mail attachment, your computer is suddenly crashing or running slowly, you receive error messages whenever you start up your computer or try to launch an application, a friend or colleague has warned you that they have received an infected e-mail attachment from you), then:

1. 
   Immediately disconnect your computer from the network to prevent the virus from spreading further or e-mailing out copies of your personal documents. If you have a wireless network adapter, you will need to both unplug your network cord and disable your wireless connection. Most notebooks with wireless have a physical button or switch to power off the wireless card.
2. Check to see if your virus protection is up-to-date and scan your hard drive for viruses. Instructions are available at:
   What if my PC gets a virus?
   What if my Macintosh gets a virus?

Where can I learn more about computer viruses?
Searchable libraries of information on known computer viruses, including symptoms and removal instructions:

• McAfee Virus Information Library Symantec Anti-Virus Research Center
  Information on virus hoaxes such as "SULFNBK.EXE," "AOL4Free," and "Good Times":
• McAfee Virus Information Library hoax list Vmyths.com

Protecting Your Computer Against Viruses

Protecting Your Computer Against Viruses


What is a computer virus, trojan or adware?
A virus is computer program whose purpose is to propagate itself by traveling from file to file and from computer to computer, often destroying files in the process. Computer viruses spread by several means, including floppy and zip disks, e-mail attachments, web pages, and file-sharing. The best way to prevent viruses from infecting your computer files is to ensure that you have adequate virus-protection software installed on your computer.
A trojan is a computer program whose purpose is to leave the infected computer open for hackers to gain access and install software, look at personal files, or use the computer for illegal purposes. Some trojans are not as harmful as others, but if you do find a trojan on your computer please strongly consider backing up, formatting, and reinstalling Windows. Trojans usually infect computers through unpatched security holes in Windows and Internet Explorer.
Adware and spyware are computer programs that can do a wide range of things. Two of the main purposes are to collect data from your computer and report it back to the company, and to display popup windows of ads whether or not you are viewing websites at the time. These programs can get onto the computer any number of ways. The most common ways are as part of freeware programs such as file sharing programs, by displaying confusing dialog boxes on websites to confuse people into clicking Yes to install them, or through security holes in Internet Explorer while you browse websites.
Because of these dangers, Wellesley College provides VirusScan to protect against Viruses and Trojans, and Ad-Aware to protect against Adware.

How do I install or update my anti-virus software?
Wellesley College provides anti-virus software and virus-definition updates free of charge for all College-owned computers and for all computers owned by Wellesley College students, faculty, and staff. Since new viruses are constantly being discovered, you must keep both your anti-virus software package (McAfee VirusScan or Virex) and your virus definitions (the library of virus descriptions which VirusScan or Virex uses to recognize and remove viruses) up to date and scan your hard drive regularly. To learn how to install or update your anti-virus software or to scan your hard drive for viruses, click the appropriate link below.
Operating System

Anti-virus Software
Windows ME, 98, and 95 - Support ending soon!
VirusScan 4.5.1 SP1
Windows XP and 2000 - Documentation for previous installs only.
VirusScan 8.0
Windows Vista, XP, and 2000
VirusScan 8.5 for Windows
Macintosh OS 8 & 9 - Support ending soon!
Virex 6.1
Macintosh OS X 10.2 and 10.3 - Documentation for previous installs only.
Virex 7.7
Macintosh OS X 10.4, for PowerPC and Intel Macs
VirusScan 8.5 for Macs

How else can I protect my computer against viruses?
You can dramatically reduce your computer's chances of being attacked by viruses by Securing your Computer.


How do I check for and remove Adware and Spyware from my computer?
Anyone who browses the web, uses instant messaging software, or file sharing software with a Windows computer is very likely to have software installed on their computer without their knowledge. Such software, called Spyware and Adware, will slow down the computer or even, in some cases, cause the computer to stop working. In an attempt to help combat this problem, the College has purchased a site license for a program called Ad-Aware that helps track down and remove these programs from your home or office computer. For details about Ad-Aware, see http://www.wellesley.edu/Computing/Ad-aware.


What else is Information Services doing to protect the campus against computer viruses?
Every IS-maintained public computer on campus is equipped with the latest version of VirusScan or Virex, and receives regular virus-definition updates. NTM and other public file servers are also running McAfee VirusScan, and receive regular virus-definition updates.
For additional protection against email viruses, Information Services is using Sophos PureMessage software to scan all email entering Wellesley College's FirstClass email system from the Internet.

What if I think my computer is infected with a virus?
If you have reason to suspect your computer is infected with a virus (you have opened a suspicious e-mail attachment, your computer is suddenly crashing or running slowly, you receive error messages whenever you start up your computer or try to launch an application, a friend or colleague has warned you that they have received an infected e-mail attachment from you), then:

1. 
   Immediately disconnect your computer from the network to prevent the virus from spreading further or e-mailing out copies of your personal documents. If you have a wireless network adapter, you will need to both unplug your network cord and disable your wireless connection. Most notebooks with wireless have a physical button or switch to power off the wireless card.
2. Check to see if your virus protection is up-to-date and scan your hard drive for viruses. Instructions are available at:
   What if my PC gets a virus?
   What if my Macintosh gets a virus?

Where can I learn more about computer viruses?
Searchable libraries of information on known computer viruses, including symptoms and removal instructions:

• McAfee Virus Information Library Symantec Anti-Virus Research Center
  Information on virus hoaxes such as "SULFNBK.EXE," "AOL4Free," and "Good Times":
• McAfee Virus Information Library hoax list Vmyths.com

KOMPUTER

A computer is a machine for manipulating data according to a list of instructions.Computers take numerous physical forms. Early electronic computers were the size of a large room, consuming as much power as several hundred modern personal computers. [1] Today, computers can be made small enough to fit into a wrist watch and be powered from a watch battery. Society has come to recognize personal computers and their portable equivalent, the laptop computer, as icons of the information age; they are what most people think of as "a computer". However, the most common form of computer in use today is by far the embedded computer. Embedded computers are small, simple devices that are often used to control other devices—for example, they may be found in machines ranging from fighter aircraft to industrial robots, digital cameras, and even children's toys.

NEW COMPUTING

The New Computing movement stems from the book "Leonardo's Laptop: Human Needs and the New Computing Technologies" by Ben Shneiderman (MIT Press, summer 2002). The Table of Contents and the draft of the Chapter 1 summarize the arguments.The New Computing is an initiative of Human-Computer Interaction Lab at the University of Maryland, where the related research project, "Ending User Frustration" is supported under the National Science Foundation grant on "Internet Impact on Society." The project director is Sociology Professor John Robinson and their webuse website contains further information.
Our 3-year research effort to study user frustration resulted in a set of seven papers.
Our colleague Prof. Kent Norman has carried out a large online survey of computer rage with compelling stories of user anger, and his own special style of videos showing safe (amusing + disturbing) destruction of computer technologies.