Keeping your Computer Safe

Two of the things that I am asked about a lot is “what can I do to make my computer faster” and “how can I protect my computer from viruses”. Below I am going to give you some advice for both of these and if you want to learn more I have given you links to articles that will give you more information. Knowing what scams and malicious actors are doing is a form of protection that I highly recommend, the old adage “knowledge is power” and “prevention is the best protection” come to mind.

One of the websites that I frequently read is called Krebs on Security http://krebsonsecurity.com/ and it is by a Internet Security expert Brian Krebs. He has three rules that I have passed on as mantra, “1) If you didn’t go looking for it, don’t install it; 2) If you installed, update it. 3) If you no longer need it, get rid of it!”.  To read more about the three rules and why they are so important check out this article: http://krebsonsecurity.com/2011/05/krebss-3-basic-rules-for-online-safety/  

One of the software he recommends (and I use) is File Hippo’s App Manager http://www.filehippo.com/download_app_manager it let’s you know what programs on your computer need to be updated and will update them for you if you choose. 

Cleaning off temporary files, deleting cookies, and fixing registry mistakes will make speed up your computer and get rid of records of your web activity so that websites can not view / collect that data. The program that I recommend to do this (again I use it) is CC Cleaner http://filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/ . People ask about defragging their computer, most computers do this automatically now but if you’d like to learn more I recommend this article http://lifehacker.com/5976424/what-is-defragging-and-do-i-need-to-do-it-to-my-computer  

To get rid of malware, adware, and certain types of bloatware I would recommend Malwarebytes (again I use this program myself) https://www.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download/  

People ask me about installing a firewall, most computers have a built-in firewall. If you have a PC running Windows you can look at your firewall settings by going to the “Control Panel” and selecting “System and Security” {Windows 7} or “Microsoft Firewall” {Windows 8}.  

Windows 8 computers also have an antivirus program pre-installed called “Windows Defender”. If you do not have that version of Windows or if you want a different antivirus there are a lot of free programs that work very well. This article lists several different good choices http://krebsonsecurity.com/tools-for-a-safer-pc/ . If you feel that you would like the added features or need a paid version buy it from a store or online; do not choose auto renewal because many companies charge more for renewals than to just buy a new program (besides they may not be the best for you the next year). 

JavaScript and Adobe Flash allow for added functionality but they can also be holes that allow for malicious programs and hackers to exploit. There are extensions that you can install that will give you more control over when a website uses JavaScript or Flash, they are discussed in the “Tools For a Safer PC” article linked above. If you are very worried about it you can go to your settings menu in Chrome under privacy you can turn off JavaScript and “prompt you for when to use plugins”. 

Another great article about what to do if you have a virus written by Malwarebytes is available here: https://goo.gl/0XYVT1 . If you have something like ransomware or there is a malicious program that you cannot clean with the above mentioned articles, your best bet is to find a reputable local computer repair business to thoroughly clean your computer.