It may be annoying, but hiding the taskbar will keep your boss from seeing what websites you have open.

Here's what you can do about it, hide the taskbar.

1) Click the 'Start' button in the lower left corner of your monitor and select 'Settings' then 'Taskbar and Start Menu'.

2) This is what you'll see:

Click on 'Auto-hide the taskbar', then select 'OK'.

3) Your taskbar is now hidden.  To view your taskbar, move your mouse point down to the bottom of the screen.

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If you don't have to type in a password to access your computer, nobody else does either.

To add a password to your user account, do the following:

1) Click on the start button on the lower left corner of your screen.  Then select 'Settings' and 'Control Panel'.

2) In the control panel, select 'User Accounts'.

3) On the User Accounts page, select your user account.

4) On the User Accounts page, select 'Create a Password' and follow the instructions.

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If you have to leave your desk, a screensaver that requires a password to deactivate will help limit access to your computer.

1) Show the desktop on your computer by clicking on the show desktop icon near your start bar or by using the "Ultimate Boss Key" I showed you in a previous lesson.

2) Right click with your mouse on the desktop (just not on an icon) and select properties.

3) You should see the window above.  Click on the "Screen Saver" tab.

4) You should see a window like one of the two windows above with a check box option to password protect the screen saver.  Check this box.  If you don't have a checkbox, you need to add a password to the user account that you use to access your PC.  I show you how to do that in the "Adding Password Protection to your PC" section.  Click here to view that section if necessary.

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Everyone around you can see what you are doing when you have huge text on your screen.

There are two ways to fix this problem.  The first is to increase your monitor's resolution.  There is no excuse to have it set lower than 1024 x 768.  Many websites will look awkward and you'll have to scroll side to side in your browser to see the whole site.  Setting it to 640 x 480 is a joke.  You will have a much better surfing experience when you can display more than half a picture and 4 words on your screen at a time.

Follow these steps to increase your monitor resolution:

1) Show the desktop on your computer by clicking on the show desktop icon near your start bar or by using the "Ultimate Boss Key" I showed you in a previous lesson.

2) Right click with your mouse on the desktop (just not on an icon) and select properties.

3) You should see the above screen.  Click the "Settings" tab at the top.

2) Slide the screen resolution bar over to 1024 x 768 then apply it.  If you think you can handle having images and text smaller than that, then move it over to a higher setting.  Keep sliding the bar over until the text and images are as small as you can get comfortable with.  Remember, the smaller the better since it'll be harder for other people to see what you're doing.

If you are using Internet Explorer, you can also set the text size in your browser. See below:

1) In the top menu of Internet Explorer, click "View" then "Text Size" and select a text size Medium or smaller.

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These tips are important for an overall state of online security. 

1) You're probably familiar with much of the information in this guide. Nevertheless, reviewing these tips can only improve the way you protect your personal information online.

2) When you join or sign up for services online, choose a long and memorable password. A password is like a toothbrush: choose a good one, don't share it with anyone, and change it at the first sign of problem. Try to come up with something that's easy for you to remember but impossible for someone to figure out.

3) No company will contact you and ask you for your usernames or passwords. Ignore any such requests.

4) Be suspicious. Anyone, anywhere in the world, can register for an ISP account, and Internet email protocols allow anyone to send a message that appears to be from any other person. Don't assume an email from "Mom" or "Uncle Dave" was actually sent from someone you know.

5) Scams abound. Scams are a popular way of getting your personal information. The most common scams are fake login pages and forged emails that ask for your password, credit card number, or other sensitive information. Ignore or report anything you see that strikes you as questionable or suspicious.

6) Know your software. Malicious software (e.g., viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and spyware) often masquerades as legitimate and even useful software. Think carefully before installing or running new software, especially anything unsolicited or sent to you in email or via website popup ad.

7) Use anti-virus software. This can detect many, but not all, forms of malicious software before they have a chance to affect your computer. Most notably, anti-virus software does not detect spyware.

8) Keep your software up to date. You can prevent many problems by regularly checking for and installing updates for your operating system, browser, messaging software, and other programs.

9) Clean up after using shared computers. If you share a computer, whether it's in a public or private setting, make sure to sign out when not using your account. You should also learn how to "clear the cache," if you use the computer to browse the Internet. Remember that using a shared computer is always riskier than using a computer to which you are the only person with access.

10) If you think an account you have online has been tampered with, contact the company you have the account with and let them know your concerns so they can check and make sure your account is secure.

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