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Can using a computer be hazardous to your health and well-being? In some respects, yes. People reading this particular review on a Mac-enthusiast Web site are not likely to suffer greatly from the exaggerated computer dread and fear syndrome that afflicts many non tech-literate types, but perhaps there is such a thing has being too blasˇ as well. Tom Bentley's "Safe Computing: How To Protect Your Computer, Your Body, Your Data, Your Money And Your Privacy In The Information Age" (whew!) is a handbook of a advice on how to avoid the cyber pitfalls of viruses, hackers, fraud, crashes, eyestrain, data loss, aching wrists, and identity theft, et al., that can afflict computer users.
Bentley notes that "Computers are simply tools. They have no intrinsic means of harming you, putting a curse on your family, or reporting your shady business dealings to the IRS." However, there are ways, some aforementioned, that computer use can bite you. A word about the book itself. It is not a "For Dummies" book, which the publisher, Untechnical Press, takes pains to make clear. Rather, it is one of the "Advice From The Neighborhood Nerd" series. The text is set in a larger than usual point size, and a font that I found mildly annoying, but readable. The first chapter is a comprehensive introduction, so Chapter 2 is where we get down to business, and the author has wisely, IMHO, chosen to concentrate first on ergonomics -- protecting yourself from aches, pains, strain, and worse. Some of the advice is common sense (take breaks). The section on computer chairs is a good review, although I am from painful experience convinced that arm rests on computer chairs, as shown in the illustration, are better dispensed with entirely. As with many of the points addressed in this book, there is a list of useful URLs, provided for further research and information, and which are held fully repeated in an omnibus Appendix at the end of the book. This book is ambidextrous, platform - wise, and Mac as well as Windows screen shots are provided as illustrations, along with many cartoons. Bentley eqivocates a bit about the issue of radiation hazards from CRT monitors, but he is a man after my own heart in recommending LCD flat panel displays if you can eat the price, noting that today's LCDs rival standard CRT displays in the image brightness and crispness, "but are vastly better, thinner, more power efficient, and emit far less heat and radiation. And they have reduced flicker [actually no flicker] so they're easier on the eyes." I was a bit disappointed with the section on keyboards, which is long on generalities and short on specifics, especially its failure to give much mention to innovative ergonomic keyboard designs like the Kinesis, except for providing a reference URL. Bentley also gives dictation software only a brief, two-paragraph, once-over. For people with typing injury, or other typing handicaps, dictation software like MacSpeech's iListen, or IBM ViaVoice is a godsend. The section on mice and mouse alternatives is even more sparse, but covers all of the options briefly, and takes an obligatory swipe at the reviled original iMac hockey puck mouse. Rounding out the ergonomics section are four pages of illustrated exercises for reducing typing strain. Chapter 3 is about protecting your data, hard disk organization and management, backups (including a section on backup software hardware and connection interfaces). Bentley is, like myself, a fan of hard drive partitioning, noting that having at least three partitions on your drive helps with organization, and that putting your precious documents on a different partition from your System and applications could help protect them from damage in the event of file corruption. This chapter also reviews disk utilities, including the several well-known Mac ones. Even Power On Software's new Rewind made the list, which has more choices for Macs than Windows. What was at about not enough software being available for Macs? Chapter 4 tackles protecting your computer itself, noting an IBM study that found the typical computer is subject to more than 120 power problems per month, and that power failures and surges are the largest single cause of data loss, accounting for 45 percent of data disasters overall. Number two is storm damage at nine percent. Mac power supplies are pretty robust, and I have never experienced any computer power supply problems in ten years connected to rural power lines. I use cheap, power bar style surge protectors, and endeavor to unplug everything (including modems from phone lines) during electrical storms. I also find that using a PowerBook for my main workhorse takes the worry out of power failures, and lets you keep on working during lightning storms. The alternative for desktop users is a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply) unit, but that cancels a lot of the price advantage of using a desktop machine. This chapter also covers using password protection, protecting your computer from theft, laptop security and protection issues, and haw to clean and dust your computer without damaging it. Also covered are extended warranties. Chapter 5, on viruses, worms, and Trojan horses will be primarily of interest to Windows-using readers, with barely passing mention of the Mac. Viruses are a growing problem in the Mac orbit, but still a minuscule one compared to what folks on the dark side have to live with. Chapter 6 is on protecting your money, that is: from scams, thieves, and various other scum-sucking bottom-feeders like spammers. Bentley advises: "Don't reply to spam e-mail offers, no matter how good deed deal sounds, or even to send a message of complaint for getting the spam." Read and heed. Also beware of online contests and sweepstakes, although these may be legit in many cases. Other topics covered include identity theft, using credit cards online, auction issues, and digital signatures. Chapter 7 is on protecting your privacy, with a long section on dealing with browser cookies, plus encryption, and e-mail issues. And that's it for the text content of Safe Computing, but there is also a bundled CD-ROM full of software, which, unlike some computer book CDs, actually contains useful applications that are not hopelessly out of date. The CD contents are listed in the Appendix below. One computer hazard not mentioned in this book, but which is a problem for me personally, and about which I receive enough mail to ascertain that it is an increasingly common problem for others, is the issue of chemical emissions from computers as a health hazard. Chemical vapors released from computer cases and circuit boards are a significant risk for growing numbers of people who suffer from chemical sensitivity. Perhaps Mr. Bentley will address this in a future edition. I enjoyed reading this book, and it is a good resource for computer ergonomics, safety, and security information. At $24.95, it is a bit expensive for a 200 page book with extra large type, and indeed 25 percent more expensive than the "For Dummies" books, although most of them do not include a CD-ROM.  Safe Computing: How to Protect Your Computer, Your Body, Your Data Your Money and Your Privacy in the Information Age
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Appendix The CD Software Anti-virus Agax v1.3
Backup Software Free Backup 1.1
NetBackup 2.0Ä
Compression/Decompression Aladdin DropStuff 5.5
Aladdin Expander 5.5
Disk Utilities AutoCheck 2.1
Data Rescue 3.0b
Installer Observer
Encryption Software Disk Lock 4.6.2 Demo
FileTwister v1.2.5 Lost Minds Software's $5 shareware FileTwister is a simple, easy-to-use file encryption tool that allows you to encrypt any files on your computer. The encrypted files are Internet safe, and are only about 100 bytes longer than the original file.
Ergonomics Software Coffee Break 3.2.3
Stretchware Demo
Security Software Burn 2.5
Cone of Silence 1.0b2
ForgotIt? 1.2.1
Keys Off 1.3.1
SuperLock 4.5.1 Pro
LockOut 1.8
MacWasher
NetShred
On Guard 3.3.1 Demo
Password Key Version 3.5
ShredIt
VSE My Privacy 1.1
Web Confidential
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