10 Steps To A Safe, Smooth Running PC

 

10 Steps To A Safe, Smooth Running PC By Michael A Silva

These ten steps will help you increase your computer's security. From discovering viruses to learning how to avoid them, this article is a must read!

Windows password This is the easiest way to make sure you know who is using your PC. Choose a lengthy password that contains capital and lowercase letters. Including a number or two will greatly increase your security. Having a Windows password means that the only people that can log onto a Windows session are people that you have granted access to.

Password manager You should never write your passwords down. Using the same password consistently can also make it easier for hackers to access your personal information. So if you can’t write it down, and you’re not
If you're supposed to use the same password, how are you supposed to keep track of all of them? The easiest way to do this is to use a password manager. We prefer to use Roboform. Roboform is an intuitive to use password and profile manager that docks neatly into your Internet Explorer toolbar and keeps track of all of your passwords for you. Roboform also uses a master password system. A single password will grant you access to all the passwords within the program. This way, you can keep all of your information safe and secure. You can download Roboform for free at http://www.roboform.com.

Spyware Remover Next to spam, spyware is the internet’s biggest annoyance. Spyware, by definition, is "any software that covertly gathers user information through the user's Internet connection without his or her knowledge, usually for advertising purposes." Once installed, the spyware
Spyware monitors user activity on the Internet and transmits that information to someone else in the background. Spyware can also gather information about e-mail addresses and even passwords and credit card numbers. ” The amount of spyware that exists on your PC is dependent on the amount of internet surfing you do. A beneficial rule of thumb here is to scan for spyware once per week or whenever poor system performance surfaces. If you don’t have a spyware scanner, we recommend http://www.webroot.com.

Antivirus Obviously, if your computer is online, you require antivirus software. Weekly scans and program updates should safeguard you against most threats. For added protection, weWe recommend using more than one antivirus scanner.

Firewall A firewall will keep unwanted visitors out of your computer. You can obtain a firewall either by using software applications like ZoneAlarm or Black Ice Defender or by using a router with your internet connection. For more information on routers, please visit http://www.Linksys.com.

File sharing Basically, file sharing programs are the single biggest security risk you will come across. This is because you only know the file name and size when downloading files. It's quite easy to alter a filename in order to trick someone into downloading a virus or other malware, such as keystroke recorders. Our advice is to stay away from file sharing at all costs. If you need to use it, make sure you have updated antivirus software installed and running.

Research In summary, familiarize yourself with the available resources. You can find a useful section on http://www.Symantec.com. Knowing what types of viruses exist and how to avoid them will make you a much smarter internet user.

Email protection Most of the antivirus applications available offer email scanning. If your current antivirus application does not offer email scanning, you should consider purchasing one that does. Incoming and outgoing emails will be scanned to protect you and the recipient. Email viruses spread very quickly by using your address book to propagate. Never read email from people you don’t know, and always make sure your email scanner is active.

Network security Another way that viruses spread is through computer networks. We have a few quick tips to keep your network safe. Always scan any files that come in from other computers. It doesn't matter if you've imported the file from home. Never allow a file to be placed on your network until it
has been scanned. The main server should be the only computer with file sharing enabled. By not allowing computer users to transmit files, you can quickly neutralize a threat.

Maintenance Performing weekly virus and spyware scans will go a long way to keeping your computer safe. Defragmenting weekly will also greatly improve performance. Your PC will run safely and smoothly if you put in the effort. Not to mention fewer headaches!

By following these ten guidelines, you will greatly improve the performance of your computer. You will also generate peace of mind as you gain a new sense of security.

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