15 Questions You're Afraid to Ask Your IT Department

Afraid of sounding stupid to your ITguy when you have a technology

issue? Fear no more! We're here togive you the answers to the most

common technology questions thatpeople like you are too scared to ask.

Let's get started!

1. So, what is IT anyways?

Information Technology, or "IT," is atechnology which uses computers togather, process, store, protect, andtransfer information.

2. Why is my computer so slow?

Do you try to run 10 different programs,or keep open several browser windows atone time? If so that's probably the issue.The other cause may be malware. In thatcase tell your IT professional exactlywhat happened, even if you were doingsomething you shouldn’t!

3. What do viruses actually do?

Obviously viruses are bad, but few knowhow they actually work. Viruses areprograms that copy themselves andinfect a computer, spreading from one toanother. Think of them as the flu for yourcomputer. Make sure you’re running agood antivirus program to keep ithealthy!

4. How can I spot spam emails?

Don't let spammers fool you! They will tryto make their email look like it’s comingfrom a legitimate source in order to getyou to willingly give them yourinformation. Avoid their trickery by checking the URL and typing it inyourself instead.

5. What's the deal with site hackers?

Usually hackers are after your usernameand password or other personalinformation. Protect yourself by makingsure you have different, strongpasswords for every site you use. Mostimportantly, don't get caught withoutbackup plans in case someone gets intoyour account anyway!

6. Is my online privacy really a big deal?

Your personal data is worth protecting,whether you think so or not. Identity theftis a huge issue and posting personalinformation makes you a prime target.You never know where that data may endup one day, and who might see it! Justbecause you don’t think anyone will carethat doesn't mean they won't!

7. Why is the internet always slow?

Spyware and viruses are two maincauses of slow internet service, so youneed to be honest with your ITprofessional about sites you havevisited. Sorry, but that's the only waythey will be able to fix it. If you'reembarrassed by your browsing history,you can be sure your giving your ITdepartment a good laugh!

8. What’s a browser cache?

A cache is simply a place on your harddrive where the browser keeps thingsthat it downloaded in case they’reneeded again. The cache has a limit ofhow big it can get and when it gets full,web pages may load slowly or not workproperly. If these issues happen to you,go in and clear the cache to help fix theproblem.

9. Why shouldn't I use the Wi-Fi here?

Public Wi-Fi may be free, but it's notsecure. Even if a Wi-Fi network has apassword, that doesn’t mean your'e safe.It’s easy for any other users on thenetwork to see what you’re doing and, insome cases, steal personal informationor passwords. We're not saying nevertake advantage of free Wi-Fi, but just becareful when you do.

10. What is cloud computing?

The "cloud" is a network of computersthat local computers can access.Cloudcomputing means storing and accessingdata and programs over the Internetinstead of your computer's hard drive.This allows you to access all of yourinformation from any device. Anywherethere's internet, you have a personalcomputer!

11. What is a cookie?

A cookie is just a type of message that isgiven to a Web browser by a Web server.Cookies are mainly used to to identifyusers and save site login information foryou. They can also be used to andpossibly prepare customized Web pagesfor the user.

12. Why does downloading take so long?

It could be a connection problem.Resetting your router and modem canhelp. Most routers and modems havereset buttons so it is simple. If yoursdoesn't have a reset button, pulling thepower cable for a second or two can dothe same thing.

13. Why can't I open email attachments?

If you get an email that you can't open,it's probably because you don't have theright software to view the file. The mostcommon file that this issue happens withis PDFs. To view these you can downloada free PDF reader such as Adobe Reader.

14. What's this clicking sound....?

Oh no! It's probably your hard drive,where everything on your computer isstored. A clicking sound as you accessyour data is one of the first indicationsthat your hard drive is about to die onyou. Make sure to frequently back-upyour hard drive to an external hard driveso you don't lose everything if it crashes!

15. What is a "hijacked" browser?

Browser hijacking is when your homepage switches to an unfamiliar one oryou get an unusual number of pop-ups.Usually this is the result of spyware.Update your antivirus program to preventhijacking. Or you could simply try adifferent browser!

THANK YOU FOR READING!

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