Tag Archives: malware

9 Free Ways to Fix a Slow Computer

So, your computer is running slow and it is really starting to get on your nerves. This can be a very frustrating situation if you are trying to get important work done. If you are able to, it is definitely worth setting a few minutes aside to try to fix your slow PC. In this guide, we take a look a 9 Free ways to fix a slow computer.

1) Defragment the Hard Drive

This is one of the easiest things you can do to regain some speed. If the hard drive is fragmented, it can lead to poor performance. To defrag, simply open up “my computer” and right click on the drive you wish to defragment. Then, click properties, click tools, and click defragment now. Just follow the instructions from here in Windows. In Windows 7, 8 and 10, you can have Windows automatically defrag your drive based on a schedule. Important note: If you have an SSD, you won’t want to defragment your hard drive. read more

Windows 7 Not Shutting Down Problem

So, recently, I had to help someone with an issue where their PC running Windows 7 would not shut down. Luckily, we were able to get the problem resolved. I figured that others might be having this issue so I thought I would share a few tips that could help you to fix this problem. Before we start looking into solutions, one helpful tip is that you can perform a hard shut down of your computer by holding down the power button on your PC. Under normal circumstances, you don’t want to do this, but in this specific case, you may have no other alternative. read more

Malware: Understanding the Enemy

To emphasize the nature of malware, you should keep in mind that it stands for ‘malicious’ or ‘malevolent’ software, both words being defined as something that is designed to harm you. These various sets of computer codes were created with the intent to intrude your computer and steal sensitive information from you. Recent findings also reveal that cyber criminals are now able to use them to gain administrative control to your computer, meaning it will only take them a couple of clicks on their mouse to open your web camera or to access you documents. read more

Get Rid of Spyware and Adware

Spyware is software or an object, such as a cookie, that is used to track your behavior and gather information about you. For obvious reasons, I don’t think anyone wants someone else gathering information about them without their permission. Often times, the information about you is only used to determine what kind of ads to show you or how to market to you. In extreme cases, spyware may be used in an attempt to hack your email, financial, or business accounts. Whether the spyware is extreme or not, I am sure you would rather do without it on your PC. Let’s look at a few ways to get rid of spyware. read more

Monthly PC Maintenance Schedule

Just like changing the oil on your car or replacing your furnace filters, your PC needs regular maintenance just like any other machine. In this guide, I will share my personal monthly maintenance schedule. You don’t need to follow it exactly, but it may help give you a good idea of what needs to be done to a computer to keep it in good working order.

Scan for Viruses, Malware, and Spyware

Viruses, Malware, and Spyware can really cause a lot of havoc if left unchecked. I try to run a scan every month at the very least. It may even be best to scan weekly or every other week. I would highly recommend setting up some type of automated schedule within your virus protection software so you don’t forget to do this. I like to schedule this scan for a time that I am away from my computer. For example, lunch on Friday is good for me as I am often away from my PC. This way, I not disrupted by the scan too much. read more