Registry Smart

If you are like most computer users, you value your privacy and do not like the idea of your personal information of any form randomly disbursed across the internet.  However, just as much as you want to protect your information, there are companies who are looking to gather as much information about you as possible.  One of the most commonly employed ways to get this information is by using spyware.

Spyware is software that runs in the background of your computer, and sends back to the company information about things such as your computer usage, what websites you visit, how often you are online, and other details about your computer activity.  This is information that most people consider to be private and do not always readily give to people.  To help ensure that your computer is as secure as possible from the prying eyes there are some simple maintenance things you can do to keep your privacy.

First, get a good spyware detection program.  There are several of these that are available free, and they do wonderful jobs.  Since they are free, there is no reason to delay downloading and installing.  The sooner the spyware is removed, the sooner your computer will be safe again.  Run the spyware detection program at least once a week.  While running once a week is a good minimum to do, it is also possible to run the program much more often if you feel the need.  You can never really run the program too much so do not worry about causing any problems.

Second, never download free software from websites that you do not know.  Many free software programs include spyware included in them.  Spyware detection programs cannot always remove this spyware, but they are able to remove some of it.  If you are downloading free software from all across the internet, you are downloading a lot of spyware yourself.  Pass on websites that you do not know and trust.

Third, whenever you install a program search through the user options and settings.  Many programs have a setting for sending back anonymous usage data.  Uncheck this box; there is no reason why you should do this.  It can slow down your computer, provide your personal information around the internet and is not something that you benefit from at all.  Let them get their information they want from someone else, always turn this setting off to help protect your computer as much as possible.

Tags: Registry Smart by Chris Wight
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Everyone knows that a computer that has no security is vulnerable to an attack of some form.  Whether it is a hacker, a virus, a Trojan or even a bad e-mail there are all kinds of risks and threats on your computer each day.  This does not mean that you have to give in and reside yourself to being at risk however.  There are things you can do to protect your personal information and your computer as much as possible.

First, never ever click on any links in an e-mail.  It does not matter if your bank just sent you a message saying that your account is limited and they need your information to unlock it.  This is most likely a scam.  Call your bank to confirm any questions you may have, clicking on a phishing link can result in your personal information being used against you and your bank account suddenly being emptied out.  Avoid this at all costs, plus clicking some links is bad because it can have a virus or a worm attached which can cause huge problems for your computer.

Second, ensure that you have your operating system up to date.  Always download any updates that are released since many updates are security patches that help ensure your computer is safe.  There is a reason these patches are released, someone has found a way to do potential damage.  Never sit around and wait on the damage to occur, instead update your system as the updates are available and you can stay as far ahead of the problems as possible.

Third, keep a good copy of an anti-virus program on your computer and up to date.  While this may seem unnecessary since you have a free copy that seems to work just fine, you will be glad you paid for a good program.  There are several really good anti-virus programs that are available on the security market today.  You should look for the best anti-virus program available that you can afford.  Never purchase an anti-virus program simply because it is cheap, instead purchase because it is a good program that will adequately protect your computer.

Fourth, do not visit websites to download anything that you do not know and trust completely.  The idea of downloading music, videos, and other things on the internet draws many people to download things they normally would not download.  This is not always a good thing at all because there are sometimes viruses, worms and other problems lurking deep within those files.  Always avoid downloading from a site that you do not know, and always scan all downloads thoroughly with your anti-virus program before ever opening it.

Tags: Registry Smart by Chris Wight
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If you are trying to ensure your computer runs as smoothly as possible for the longest time possible there are some things that you can do to help ensure you are as happy as possible with the performance of your computer.  Remember, you can get out of your computer what you are willing to put into it.

First, you should always make sure you are removing old files on your computer periodically.  If you are not using the file continuously, then consider backing it up if you need to keep it onto a flash drive or even a CD or delete it if the file is no longer needed.  The more information you have stored on your computer, the longer it will take to access the information you need, and ultimately this can slow down your computer’s speed.

Second, run a disc defragmenter on occasion.  How often you should run the defragmenter will ultimately depend upon how much you use your computer.  People who are quite active on the computer or even those who practically live on their computer should consider defragmenting to be a weekly task.  If you do not use the computer much then running defragmenter on a monthly basis will be perfectly acceptable.  Running this will help ensure that files are accessed much faster, free up hard drive space and really help improve the overall functionality of your computer.

Third, always clear your cookies and cache from the internet browser that you use every so often.  At a bare minimum, there should be a clean out of all cookies and the cache at least on a monthly basis.  This information is not necessary to store any longer, but will begin to slow down your computer over time.  Keep your computer running as quickly as possible.

Without following these simple tips that are quite basic and easy to do over time you will notice a huge decrease in your computer’s performance.  Never postpone the maintenance of your computer because it is so simple to do, takes only a few minutes of your time and can help ensure that your computer works for many years.  A well-maintained computer can be upgraded much cheaper than it could ever cost to replace, and with a good computer running properly you can ensure that your computer activities are as pleasant as possible without being a burden.

Tags: Registry Smart by Chris Wight
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