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The seven most important things about computer networks that should be understood by everyone who uses one

Principle one: Know how to 'talk the talk'

In the article "They've heard them all," two of the most humorous stories detailing naive users' confusion about computers revolve around simple misunderstandings of vocabulary (Mears & Dubie 2006:1). Some people do not clearly understand what 'cookies' are on their computers -- and even if most users today are cognizant of the fact that cookies in IT parlance means something different than chocolate chip vs. peanut butter, they may merely know that cookies are 'bad' without understanding how websites use them to track or store user information. Simply having users familiar with the vocabulary of their computers -- what is a hard drive, what is hardware vs. software, the difference between the corporate Intranet vs. The Internet as a whole -- can be useful in making communication more effective between IT help staff and the rest of the workers at the organization.

Principle two: 'Safety first'

Information security is particularly critical at most organizations today. Even the smallest institution must be wary about the threat of viruses and Trojans. Employees may be lax about updating antivirus protection or opening emails that seem obviously corrupted to IT staff, but harmless to the eyes of ordinary users. Yet everyday workers are the 'first line of defense' in ensuring that networks do not become impinged upon. All employees must know how to protect themselves and the organization's computer infrastructure with their own, everyday actions. Users should also know how to use anti-viral programs effectively. "One way viruses try to hide from virus removal software is by hiding themselves inside Microsoft Windows or inside other programs on your computer, so when Windows or a program starts to act strangely, you should check to see if you have a virus. A full-disk virus scan will take a while, so start the scan before you head out to lunch" (Harding 2012). They should also be aware of the need to update all programs, as well as all antivirus programs, to 'patch' any potential vulnerabilities.

Principle three: 'When in doubt, back it up'

During 'crunch time,' it is very easy for employees to put off backing up critical system files. Employees may not know how to do so, or they feel pressured to accomplish critical tasks immediately, and do not worry about backing up files until it is too late. Employees should be well-versed in how to do so and must make it part of their regular 'routine' rather than something they vaguely know they should do. "Small USB 2.0 flash drives are finally large enough and fast enough to be useful. They're able to backup 4-8GB or more one of these tiny and lightweight drives. I suggest you get a couple of them and back up your data in duplicate or triplicate" (Things everyone should know if using a computer, 2009, Aim for Awesome).

Principle four: Understand what a browser 'is'

In one of the examples of "They've heard them all," a man was frantic because he was unable to access his Internet information, because he had installed a new browser and not enabled cookies (Mears & Dubie 2006:2). Few users understand what a 'browser' is, and how different browser functions affect their experience online. Given that this is one of the most important points of contact for users with the Internet, along with email, users must understand the differences between various browser security features, capabilities, and the basic method of installing and updating a browser.

Principle five: Know thy passwords (and use strong ones)

Fortunately, systems are now able to require users to have passwords that are considerably more complicated than 'password' or the users' last names. However, users should also be warned to 1. remember their passwords and 2. use different passwords, particularly from their home computing devices. That way, if one system is 'hacked,' the user will not have his or her work information stolen, or vice versa.