As a computer user, it takes a little bit of work to keep your system free from adware and spyware. It is important to take these security measures however, because you will be protecting all of the private information you choose to store on your PC. This sensitive information may include passwords, personal documents, and sometimes even credit card numbers. These three tips will help you to ensure that you are never the victim of an adware or spyware problem.

Tip # 1 – Be Skeptical Of Every Download This may seem like common sense, but sometimes we think nothing of downloading programs that we find online for our personal use. The most notorious types of spyware and adware are programs that are offered online for free. This can include programs such as games, music files, and screensavers. These programs are free for a reason! They are used to generate pop-up ads and can even hijack your internet capabilities by directing your browser to bring you to websites you did not even want to go to.

Tip # 2 – Keep Your Windows Software Up-To-Date The updates offered by Windows includes a variety of security fixes to ensure your PC is not vulnerable to certain adware and spyware programs. The updates are offered for free from Microsoft.

Tip # 3 – Purchase and Install Spyware Protection Software Even spyware and adware cleaners that are offered for free online do not fully protect your system. Although the free spyware cleaners can be a temporary solution, many spyware and adware programs are written to re-install themselves later. The spyware protection software that can be purchased is better because it is specifically designed to locate and permanently disable all spyware, malware, and adware before they can attack your computer. Keeping your computer free of spyware will ensure the safety of your data as well as keep your PC functioning properly.

Symptom # 1 – Pop-Up Ads 

This is probably the most common symptom to look for. Computer users may see pop-up or pop-under advertisements for pornography and other offers.

 Symptom # 2 – New Internet Home Page 

Certain types of spyware that can hijack your internet browser have the ability to change your default homepage. When you try to change it back to your original setting, you are unable to do so.

 Symptom # 3 – Slowed Performance 

If your computer system seems to suddenly begin running at a very slow pace, you may be infected with spyware or adware. These programs use up a lot of free space to gather information about your internet behavior which enables the programs deliver advertisements to your computer.

 Symptom # 4 – Email Issues 

If you begin to see emails that were sent without your knowledge and begin receiving messages that were bounced back to your inbox as undeliverable, it is very possible that spamware has been installed on your system. It works by stealing a copy of your email address book and delivers the information and email addresses back to the spammer.

 Symptom # 5 – New Toolbars on Internet Explorer 

Spyware that has been enabled to take over your internet browser has been known to install unwanted toolbars into Internet Explorer that are next to impossible to remove.

If your computer is experiencing any of these symptoms, your personal information is at risk. You should take immediate steps to rid your system of malicious programs by installing spyware protection software.

Extending your computer’s life is not as difficult as it sounds.  In fact, you can double your computer’s life in just five minutes a day.  Here are five easy steps you can do each day to increase the life of your computer by 50%. 

1. Check for updates with your local anti-virus software.  Some software, such as Avast, automatically updates without interrupting your Internet experience.  Other software, such as Norton Anti-Virus, requires that you manually check for updates.  Always make sure to check for daily updates, no matter what anti-virus program you own.  Protecting your computer against viruses protects it from a unwarranted virus attack.  Virus attacks can deplete a computer’s life instantly. 

2. Check for updates with your anti-spyware software.  Increase your computer’s life — check for updates frequently.  Some anti-virus software, such as Norton Anti-Virus, comes with anti-spyware protection.  For ones that do not, make sure to install an anti-spyware program and check for frequent updates.  Spyware attacks are just as common as virus infections.    

3. Limit downloads.  Frequent downloading harms your computer, causing data to scatter.  The scattered data clutters your registry, making it more prone to errors.  The solution?  Limit downloads from unauthorized sites.  Also, never download anything from a peer-to-peer network, such as Limewire or Kazaa.  It increases your chances of downloading harmful material by double-fold.  Maintaining a healthy registry is essential to increasing the longevity of computer life. 

4. Avoid sites with pop-up ads.  Not only are pop-up ads intrusive and annoying, they also clutter your computer with junk.  If you are not careful, it can also add unwanted material, such as trojans or spyware.  Official sites or company-owned sites usually do not have annoying pop-up ads.  Stick with them if you can.  As insignificant as this seems, you increase your computer life by 50% just by avoiding pop-up filled sites. 

5. Clean out your computer with anti-spyware.  Before turning off the computer, always run an anti-spyware scan.  Spyware and other malicious data are continuously collected in your computer, unlike viruses.  Make sure to scan your computer every day for a clean, healthy computer. Take five minutes out of your day to complete these tasks — it will immediately increase the length of your computer’s life.   

The number one reason why computers suffer computer stroke (you recognize this at the ominous blue screen of death) is not because of viruses or spyware.  It is because we never bothered to repair our registry, the most important part in maintaining a healthy, fast PC.  There are signs that your registry needs immediate repair, some subtle, some not so subtle.  Including that blue screen of death, the virtual Mr. Reaper.  Scary.  Do you know these signs by heart?  Here are the top five signs of a damaged registry. 

1. Slow, sluggish performance.  If you notice your computer performing slower and slower, your registry is corrupted.  Over time, file data gets scattered, damaging your computer and causing to perform poorly.  To remedy this problem, repair it with a cleanup tool. 

2. Constant error messages.  Yes, you have Windows, you will run into error messages. With that said, if error messages pop up every single time you use your computer, your registry is damaged.  Repair it to fix the errors. 

3. Continuous freezing.  If your PC continuously freezes, say every start up or so, your registry is damaged.  To solve this problem, simply repair it. 

4. Continuous crashes.  Having frequent crashes?  Although it could be a virus, it could also be a damaged registry.  You know what comes next.  To fix it, repair it. 

5. Sluggish startups.  If your computer is slow when starting up, it is a tell-tale sign of a very, very damaged registry.  You know what to do to - fix it. If you experience of these signs, repair it with a cleanup tool such as RegCure.  It is available for free download on our website, Quick PC Solutions.  Simply install, run, and have it analyze the data.  If there are any errors, our recommended registry cleaners will clean it up for you.  Simple as pie.

Your computer’s registry is essentially your computer’s brain, keeping your computer’s functions in top form for optimal computer performance.  Over time, bits of lost or scattered information creep into your registry, causing it to ultimately malfunction.  You know you need to keep it safe, but have you ever wondered what exactly it does? 

What the Registry Does
 

In technical terms, a registry is a computer’s main database, comprised of information detailing specific computer configurations, including hardware, software, system data, and your set preferences — like how your desktop is set up, for example.  All of this information is kept there, securely out of view.  Every action performed on your computer involves this vital key, the heart of the computer’s longevity.  This is why it is so important to keep it in top form. The registry is accessible for editing, but Windows highly discourages this.  Only trained professionals should attempt to manually edit the registry, and even then they must make registry backups in case they make a wrong move.  All you need is one oddly-placed comma to render your computer inaccessible, causing immediate computer death.  

 Like any other equipment, registries need manual ‘cleaning’ also.  After all, metaphorical dust collects in the registry, causing it to malfunction.  After a while, this leads to that fateful blue screen.   Your registry collects errors very easily.  Something as simple as downloading a mp3 file or emptying your recycle bin causes these little fragments of data to float around in inner computer space, littering your computer’s registry.  Each action you do causes an offset of these data fragments, and unless you clean it properly, these fragments will ultimately destroy your computer. Think of it as food for your body.  If you eat food, leftover things such as dirty plates, crumbs, and utensils sit unless you put them in the dishwasher.  A lazy person won’t clean up after themselves, and soon the entire kitchen is filled with dirt and grime.  With no clean utensils or plates, the person either has to eat elsewhere or clean it up themselves. Conversely, if you make no effort to clean your registry, your computer suffers premature computer death. Case in point: your registry is the heart of your computer, so make sure to take care of it.  If you don’t, you risk premature computer death.