PC Maintenance Tips
aur Computer Service — Most computer owners are now using their computers to go online. As soon as you are connected to the Internet, you open yourself up to a wide variety of security issues. Some of these issues may have the potential to compromise the stability of your computer and/or your personal information. When you buy a new computer it comes with a collection of software pre-installed, usually including some kind of anti-virus program. This software is NOT enough to protect your computer from security issues, because generally all the software on the computer, including the Windows® operating system, can be outdated and is commonly known to have security holes. In addition, no matter what anti-virus and anti-spyware software that may be installed on your computer, you can still unknowingly invite virus and spyware infections onto your computer. If you are unsure which steps to take in order to keep your computer safe from security issues, you may end up with an infected computer. Here are some tips for preventing these issues:
If you are using the Windows operating system, always have the latest security updates from Microsoft on your computer. This is the first priority when you are using the Internet. You can set your computer to automatically download these security updates or you can manually install Windows® updates at http://www.windowsupdate.com/. If you choose automatic updates, your computer will notify you when new updates are available.
Always use the most recent anti-virus software and only use ONE anti-virus program. If you use more than one anti-virus program, your computer can become unstable. Aur Computer Service recommends AVG Anti-Virus, because it will not slow down your computer and it is FREE to all home users. To download AVG Free Edition, go to: http://www.grisoft.com.
Unlike anti-virus software, it is okay to have more than one anti-spyware program on your computer. Always use current, updated anti-spyware programs and make sure to run full-system scans weekly. Aur Computer Servicerecommends the following FREE programs:
- Windows Defender (http://www.microsoft.com)
- Lavasoft Ad-Aware Personal (http://www.lavasoftusa.com)
- AVG Anti-Spyware (http://www.ewido.com)
- AVG Anti-Rootkit Free Edition(http://www.grisoft.com)
- Spybot Search and Destroy(http://www.safer-networking.org)
- CCleaner (http://www.ccleaner.com)
If you have broadband Internet (cable, DSL), it is recommended that you run your computer behind a basic firewall device. A firewall is considered the first line of defense in protecting private information and can be hardware or software based. The firewall that aur Computer Service recommends is the Linksys WRT54G Router, which can be found at http://www.linksys.com.
aur Computer Service recommends not opening any emails if you are unsure of their source. Also be very careful with attachments and links to websites found within emails. The source of many infections can be traced back to email.
It is recommended not to click on any pop-up ads while browsing the Internet. To help minimize the number of pop-up ads, use a pop-up blocker such as the Google Toolbar (http://toolbar.google.com).
Clicking on “Install” or “Yes” or “Ok” whenever you are browsing the Internet is not suggested. For example, if you run into a pop-up screen that says; “do you want to install…?” Always click “No.”
Avoid browsing “vice” web sites which tend to be heavily embedded with viruses and spyware. The content of these web sites include porn, copyrighted material, and illegal activity sites.
Using “Internet black market” file sharing software such as Kazaa, Limewire, Bearshare, Ares, etc. is not only illegal, but also likely to infect your computer with viruses and spyware.
All of the above tips and hints are extremely important in keeping your computer running smoothly. However, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, your computer may be infected:
- Computer will not boot-up
- Programs run incorrectly
- Computer is very slow
- Computer crashes
- Tons of pop-ups
- Trouble accessing the Internet
Finally, if your computer does become infected with a virus, getting rid of this problem can cost anywhere from $75.00 to $250.00 depending on the severity of infection. This can even result in your computer’s information permanently being lost. Therefore, you should proactively keep your computer well maintained in order to keep it secure and running at full-speed. — By Tony Farrell, aur Computer Service co-owner
Computers For Sale- Milwaukee – $250 – LAPTOP – HP Pavilion ze5630us Pentium 4M 2.3Ghz 512MB COMBO 40GB Wireless XP Home
- Milwaukee – $250 – IBM ThinkCentre MT-M 8171-LUR SFF Pentium 4 3.2Ghz HT 1024MB DVDRW 320GB XP Pro
- Milwaukee – $185 – Dell Optiplex GX280 Pentium 4 2.8Ghz Hyperthreading 512MB DVDROM CDRW Combo 40GB XP Home
- Milwaukee – $175 – Dell Optiplex GX280 Pentium 4 2.8Ghz 512MB DVDROM CDRW Combo 40GB XP Home
- Milwaukee – $160 – HP Pavilion 514n Celeron 2.2Ghz 512MB CDRW DVDROM Combo 40GB XP Home