Computer Maintenance Tips

There are two System Tools that you should run every so often. It will depend on how often you use your computer and what you are using your computer for. If you use your computer a few times few times per week for word processing and surfing the Internet you may be able to get away with maintaining your computer once a month. If you are also doing sound, image and video editing each day you may need to maintain your computer on a weekly basis.

There are a couple of System Tool programs that should be used regularly. They are Disk Clean-up and Disk Defragmenter found in the System Tools Folder shown in the picture above and to the right. The Disk Clean-up Tool program deletes the unwanted files that the computer “accumulates” as you use the various programs and “Surf the Net”. These files just clutter up your hard drive and slow down your machine’s performance. Another useful program tool is Disk Defragmenter. Defragmentation is the process of locating the noncontiguous fragments of data into which a computer file may be divided as it is stored on a hard disk, and rearranging the fragments and restoring them into fewer fragments or into the whole file. Defragmentation reduces data access time and allows storage to be used more efficiently.

Antivirus Software and Firewalls. Antivirussoftware is easy to set up and use. The default settings won't hinder your computer's operation; you just need to update the virus definitions regularly. With firewalls, though, the settings must be customized. Improperly configured firewalls either provide inadequate protection or hamper legitimate activities. Personal firewalls, as well as many business firewalls, use packet filtering. The simplest packet filters use rules based only on the source and destination IP addresses, source and destination ports, and protocol. Firewalls that view this data for each packet in isolation are called static packet filters. They can control what Internet services a computer can use or provide, but as software they are vulnerable to IP spoofing. More often these filters are built into routers, where a process called Network Address Translation (NAT) hides the IP addresses of computers on a local network, exposing just the router to the Internet. ZoneAlarm was the first program to monitor outgoing traffic as well as to filter communication on an application level; this is now the standard in personal firewalls. With outbound monitoring, you can allow requests from your browser while denying requests from a Trojan, even for the same port. Most personal firewalls use application information along with port, protocol, and flow data to provide multilevel stateful inspection.

Spyware. It's a broad term for deceptive software that surreptitiously installs itself on a computer via the Web. Once it lurks on your PC or laptop, it allows an outsider to harvest your personal information, which can be used for many purposes. In its most benign form, a kind of spyware known as adware tracks Web surfing or online buying so marketers can send you targeted -- and unsolicited – ads. Other spyware may have a more malicious intent, such as stealing passwords or credit-card information. Having a number of unauthorized programs running on your PC at once makes it sluggish, unstable, and, ultimately, more likely to crash.

Spybot - Search & Destroy:

This program can detect and remove Spyware of different kinds from your computer. Spyware is a relatively new kind of threat that common anti-virus applications do not yet cover. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you didn't intentionally install, if your browser crashes, or if you browser start page has changed without your knowing, you most probably have Spyware. But even if you don't see anything, you may be infected, because more and more Spyware is emerging that is silently tracking your surfing behavior to create a marketing profile of you that will be sold to advertisement companies. You can download the program here:

Ad-aware:

Ad-Aware is designed to provide advanced protection from known Data-mining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components. With the release of Ad-Aware SE Personal edition, Lavasoft takes the fight against Spyware to the next level.

Lavasoft has also provided you with the means to review, research, backup, exclude, and/or ignore any component or components found by Ad-Aware. It is therefore important for you, the user, to understand and abide by the EULA agreements provided by the developers of any applications on your computer, which may be affected by the removal of any portion of their software. You can download the program here:

Tips for using program(s):

  1. Download Spybot Search and Destroy & Ad-aware from the respective sites listed above.
  2. Install Spybot and go to the site and download the most current Definition Updates.
  3. Download & install Ad-aware. Go to the site and download the most current Definition Updates.
  4. It is suggested that you run the programs in Safe Mode…to do so you need to re-boot your machine. When booting you press F8 key and keep tapping it until a menu shows. Select Safe Mode.
  5. You then must run Spybot Search & Destroy first then Ad-aware. Simply delete the files they bring up.
  • You will also need to check frequently for Updates for your Antivirus and Anti-Spyware software for best protection.

Furthermore, the use of Spybot Search & Destroy & Ad-aware will remove files from your computer. I will not take responsibility or be held liable for any damage that is done to your computer for any reason if you choose to use these or any similar programs. You assume all risk involved.

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