Top Tips to keep your PC in tip top condition
Install all available updates for your operating system
These updates are regularly released to protect the Microsoft operating systems from new threats that are identified. You must have a proper licensed version of the Microsoft operating system otherwise you won’t be able to install the updates.
To action: Click ‘Start’ (bottom left and corner) then ‘all programmes’ then ‘windows update’.
Install an anti-virus software and keep it up-to-date
A computer virus is a program that can copy itself and is usually designed to corrupt or destroy data on your computer. Viruses are often hidden in other programs or documents and are activated when these are opened. New viruses are being developed all the time so anti-virus software providers are being constantly challenged to provide quick solutions the latest threats.
Popular choices are Norton McAfee Kaspersky Bit Defender or AVG
To action: Set your anti-virus software to auto update and to automatically run every day. Then you won’t have to remember to do it!
Check for Spyware
Spyware software can collect personal information such as which sites you’ve visited. Even though this causes a privacy concern as the users’ permission has not been requested this type of spyware is relatively harmless. But there is malicious spyware which can interfere with your computer, including installing additional software, changing your computer’s settings and redirecting you to fake web pages. Sometimes pop-up adverts can be the source of spyware. You may only be aware you’ve got spyware on your computer if connection speeds slow down or keep dropping, or you lose some functionality in other programs.
To action: There’s a lot of free anti-spyware software to choose from, just Google ‘free anti-spyware software’ and take your pick. We like AdAware from Lavasoft, or try Microsoft Defender or AVG.
Delete your web history
All the websites you’ve visited will be shown in the web history records so to keep your browsing history private you need to regularly delete your web history. It will also avoid using up storage space on your computer. Think of it as a housekeeping exercise to keep things tidy!
To action: Use the ‘delete history’ function in your web browser:
In FireFox click ‘tools’ then delete ‘web history’
In Explorer click the safety spanner then ‘delete browsing history’
In Google Chrome click ‘customise’ then ‘tools’ then ‘clear browsing data’. Alternatively you can download an app which gives you the option to delete the history every time the browser is closed.
Delete your temporary internet files
As you browse the Internet, each page you visit is saved as a temporary internet file. This helps web pages you visit frequently to load faster because next time you visit that page only the content that has changed is downloaded from the Internet, with the unchanged data being loaded from your temporary internet file.
The 'temporary' internet files are not really temporary at all, as they will be stored on your computer’s hard disk until you remove them. By removing them you’ll free up some storage space, and also ensure you’re seeing the most up-to-date version of the web pages you’re visiting.
To action: Click ‘Start’ then ‘all programmes’ then ‘accessories’ then ‘system tools’ then ‘desktop clean-up’
If you’re using Internet Explorer you can delete the files any time by choosing ‘Internet Options’ selecting the ‘general’ tab click on ‘temporary internet files’ and then on the button labelled ‘delete files’.
Top Tips to keep your PC in tip top condition
Install all available updates for your operating system
These updates are regularly released to protect the Microsoft operating systems from new threats that are identified. You must have a proper licensed version of the Microsoft operating system otherwise you won’t be able to install the updates.
To action: Click ‘Start’ (bottom left and corner) then ‘all programmes’ then ‘windows update’.
Install an anti-virus software and keep it up-to-date
A computer virus is a program that can copy itself and is usually designed to corrupt or destroy data on your computer. Viruses are often hidden in other programs or documents and are activated when these are opened. New viruses are being developed all the time so anti-virus software providers are being constantly challenged to provide quick solutions the latest threats.
Popular choices are Norton McAfee Kaspersky Bit Defender or AVG
To action: Set your anti-virus software to auto update and to automatically run every day. Then you won’t have to remember to do it!
Check for Spyware
Spyware software can collect personal information such as which sites you’ve visited. Even though this causes a privacy concern as the users’ permission has not been requested this type of spyware is relatively harmless. But there is malicious spyware which can interfere with your computer, including installing additional software, changing your computer’s settings and redirecting you to fake web pages. Sometimes pop-up adverts can be the source of spyware. You may only be aware you’ve got spyware on your computer if connection speeds slow down or keep dropping, or you lose some functionality in other programs.
To action: There’s a lot of free anti-spyware software to choose from, just Google ‘free anti-spyware software’ and take your pick. We like AdAware from Lavasoft, or try Microsoft Defender or AVG.
Delete your web history
All the websites you’ve visited will be shown in the web history records so to keep your browsing history private you need to regularly delete your web history. It will also avoid using up storage space on your computer. Think of it as a housekeeping exercise to keep things tidy!
To action: Use the ‘delete history’ function in your web browser:
In FireFox click ‘tools’ then delete ‘web history’
In Explorer click the safety spanner then ‘delete browsing history’
In Google Chrome click ‘customise’ then ‘tools’ then ‘clear browsing data’. Alternatively you can download an app which gives you the option to delete the history every time the browser is closed.
Delete your temporary internet files
As you browse the Internet, each page you visit is saved as a temporary internet file. This helps web pages you visit frequently to load faster because next time you visit that page only the content that has changed is downloaded from the Internet, with the unchanged data being loaded from your temporary internet file.
The 'temporary' internet files are not really temporary at all, as they will be stored on your computer’s hard disk until you remove them. By removing them you’ll free up some storage space, and also ensure you’re seeing the most up-to-date version of the web pages you’re visiting.
To action: Click ‘Start’ then ‘all programmes’ then ‘accessories’ then ‘system tools’ then ‘desktop clean-up’
If you’re using Internet Explorer you can delete the files any time by choosing ‘Internet Options’ selecting the ‘general’ tab click on ‘temporary internet files’ and then on the button labelled ‘delete files’.