An IT professional is hosting a three-part home users’ course to give residents tips, advice and guidance on a range of computer and technology issues.

Among the areas to be covered are troubleshooting, surviving virus attacks and data protection.

Edwin Cannonier has more than 20 years experience in the information technology sector, and even when he tried a different line of work, becoming a police officer, his extensive knowledge of IT issues led to him being called upon to handle information technology duties.

Now he is hoping to share his expertise to help home users, from teenagers to seniors, to handle computer and IT problems, to protect themselves from virus attacks and guide them through other important areas, such as data protection.

Mr Cannonier started out working for Cable & Wireless as a telecoms technician before moving to the IT side of the business. After 13 years, he moved to TeleBermuda International for a few years, again specialising in IT.

He then decided to join the Bermuda Police Service.

“They got wind of my IT background and put me on to the IT side of things,” he explained. This gave him further insight into problems, both unintentional and malicious, that are faced by residents with computers.

“I noticed that home users were not well informed about some of these issues,” he said.

“So, I thought I could give information and survival tips, My desire is to encourage home computer users to be safe.”

Issues can range from unscrupulous repair technicians to recognising harmful virus attacks or hoax e-mails and telephone calls from strangers seeking sensitive digital data.

Mr Cannonier said the introductory classes, each lasting for one hour, will be held on three Saturday mornings between 10am and 11am. The venue is the Chamber of Commerce offices at 1 Point Pleasant Road, next to the Hamilton ferry terminal.

The first two sessions will be this Saturday and October 24, with the date for the final class yet to be confirmed.

Teenagers, adults and seniors are encouraged to attend. The course fee is $75, with proceeds being donated to charity.

Mr Cannonier said he plans to continue his IT teaching at St George’s Community Centre in the new year.

To register for the course, or for more information, e-mail: myclassbda@icloud.com