Computer Aid

On taking delivery of a new computer you often find the supplier has included programs not requested and

unwanted; you are urged to buy them and if you do, the supplier gets a percentage. These can slow boot-

up time tenfold. The common term for these annoying 'extras' is 'crapware' - there is even free software

called the 'De-Crapifier' to clean and speed up the new PC!

Here are some tips to help you look after your PC:

It is essential that you keep windows up to date

1. Get a NAT Router with SPI; this gives you a hardware firewall. Use your Windows firewall as well

2. If you use Internet Explorer make certain it is IE8. Consider Firefox or Opera instead

3. Back up - in case of HDD failure or a nasty infection (do a search on VIRUT if you doubt the seriousness)

4. There are many very good FREE AntiMalware programs. It is too easy for one bundled with the PC to

expire - the free one won't, in general do not use 2 AV's at the same time. No AV will be 100% effective

all of the time. Always have a second on demand scanner available & up to date

5. Passwords for online log-ins etc must be secure, assuming you store them on your PC

6. Email clients are a major attack vector. Consider an alternative to the ones shipped with Windows

7. Do a monthly check:

Go to Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools>Disk Clean Up. Check Recycle Bin, Temp Files etc.

If you are happy with your stability, select 'More Options' tab and click on 'Remove all but the most

recent Restore Point' - Clean Up. When the latter has finished, click OK. Now 'defrag'* your HDD

*Fragmentation - eg You have a 10 page document which over time gets broken up. It takes your PC

longer to 'fetch' them and your PC seems to be slowing down. Defraggers try to bring all those pieces

together again