Hard-Drive Headaches

If you're willing to spend a bit of money, consider a visit to TuneUp.com http://www.tuneup.com. For $4.95 a month or $39.95 a year, you get not only services like those offered by SupportHelp but also software that scans your computer for viruses and that automatically delivers updates of key programs. Having a problem with your monitor? The newest video driver, uploaded to your machine by TuneUp.com, might just take care of it for you.

For some computer problems, only the human touch will do. Try the PC Crisis Line (800-828-4358). It's an independent company that provides support for all types of PC hardware and software. And the price is reasonable - $3 a minute for the first 10 minutes and $1 a minute thereafter. You're billed by credit card, not on your phone bill (as with those 900 numbers), and there's no charge if the company can't help you with your problem. The PC Crisis Line office is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific time, Monday through Friday, but the techs are on call around the clock.

In the medieval era of personal computing, newbies received tech support from user groups that met at the local Denny's. Those groups are still out there, and you can find them by visiting the Association of Personal Computer User Groups http://www.apcug.org. Consider joining up, attending meetings, and building relationships with knowledgeable users - folks you can call at 5 p.m., when that vital report just won't print out.

It's no fun when your computer goes kablooey in the middle of a major project. But with a little effort, you can transform a hellish experience into mere purgatory.

Coordinates: CyberMedia Inc., http://www.cybermedia.com; Quarterdeck Corp., http://www.quarterdeck.com

Antidotes for Viruses - and Thieves

America's streets are the safest they've been in years, but its computers are another matter. They're at the mercy of virus-generating hackers, sneak thieves, and disgruntled employees.

New types of computer viruses leap from machine to machine with depressing ease, ravaging data as they go. In 1996, according to Safeware, a computer-insurance company, crooks swiped over 265,000 laptops, many of them crammed with vital business data. And a survey of 200 major corporations by WarRoom Research LLC found that 48% had been hit by data thieves during 1996, with most victims reporting losses of more than $50,000 per incident.

You say you've never had a computer-security problem? Good. Keep it that way.

Start with a sound anti-virus strategy. For years, the virus threat was more hype than reality. That changed with the development of "macro viruses," which can hide inside word-processing documents or spreadsheets: Open the wrong memo, and you're infected.

There are plenty of good virus-filtering products on the market, including Dr Solomon's Anti-Virus and McAfee's VirusScan ($50 each). Pick one and use it. If you're on a computer network, make sure that every machine on it is equipped with anti-virus software that scans email and data coming in from the Internet. And remember: To detect the latest diseases, anti-virus programs require regular updates from the manufacturer.

Once you've stopped viruses from getting in, you need to prevent private information from getting out. Windows comes with a password system to prevent passers-by from spying on your work, but it's easy to sidestep. For surefire security, try Symantec's Norton Your Eyes Only ($89.95), which features a tougher-to-crack password program.

Older encryption systems were hard to use. With Your Eyes Only, it takes just a second or two to scramble private files so that only you can read them. There's also a drag-and-drop feature that lets you create secure folders on your desktop: You can dedicate a folder to, say, client information, and once it's set up, all the files stored in it will be encrypted automatically.

Passwords have always been the weak link in computer security. Really good passwords, like "204jobtf23," are impossible to remember; really memorable ones, like your birthday, are too easy to guess.

The problem gets much worse if you have multiple passwords swimming around in your head. Counterpane Systems http://www.counterpane.com has a clever remedy called Password Safe, a free program available for downloading at the Web site. The program does what the name implies: It locks and stores your passwords in encrypted form. You'll need to remember just one password - the one that opens Password Safe.

Now, what about your laptop? It'd be a shame if someone were to run off with it. Not only would you lose $4,000 worth of computer; you'd lose the priceless data inside it. CyberAngel from Computer Sentry (www.sentryinc.com) protects your data - and gives you a fighting chance of retrieving your machine.