Computer Maintenance is a very important part of owning a computer. There are several very
important things to do, if you want to keep your computer running in good condition. Of utmost
importance is computer security. I recommend you do 2 things to start, and they are both free.
The first thing you need to do is install is an antivirus program. This protects your computer
against viruses, bugs, and other diseases lurking about the internet. Unfortunately, there are
some people out there in cyberworld, who pride themselves in spreading this garbage.
I use the AVG anti-virus software to protect my computer. They have several versions depending
upon your specific needs. They have an excellent free version as well. You can download a copy
at http://www.grisoft.com.
Don't be like so many people, who wait until they find a virus destroying their computer before
they take any action. As with everything you install, please make sure you have other pages and
applications closed before you install the software.
Most of the time you will notice an extra load on your system, when you have an anti-virus
program running all the time in the background. It should be minimal. But, if you notice new
problems with your computer after installing any software, this might mean you have a bad install.
This can happen when you install anything, including windows. If this happens, simply uninstall
the software, and install it again.
Another thing you need to do is install an anti-spyware program. This program will detect
applications that are spying on your computer. Most of the time these are harmless, but predators
do lurk about. It's noone's business what you have on your computer.
I use a program called, Spybot - Search And Destroy. This program searches your hardrive, and
finds and lists the spyware on your computer. You select the one's you want fixed, and with the
click of a button, they are gone.
WARNING! USE THIS PROGRAM AT YOUR OWN RISK! SOME SOFTWARE
PROVIDERS REQUIRE YOU TO ALLOW THEIR SPYWARE, WHEN YOU INSTALL THEIR PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY IF
IT'S FREE. IF YOU DESTROY THE SPYWARE, IT COULD MAKE THAT PROGRAM STOP FUNCTIONING PROPERLY.
I haven't had any problems personally, but neither I, nor the Spybot utitlity, will be held liable
for any problems you encounter with this device.
If you would like to download and install a free copy of Spybot - Search And Destroy, you can
download it at http://www.safer-networking.org
I hope these applications will help you keep your computer secure. Happy surfing!
William Bryan Boyd is the author of several online webmaster tutorials featured at
http://williambryan.com.
He is the developer of the popular,
Web Page Maker 2, a free web
page maker with many great features. While your there, check out the new
Retail Electronics Warehouse for a full line
of name brand, low priced electonics.
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