GUIDE - Speeding Up and Protecting Your PC

Theres afew steps you must take to keep your PC in good shape, and key areas you must cover

============================
PROTECTION

---

FIREWALL
This is the gate between your computer and the internet, Windows has one as standard but its useless! So turn it off when installing a new one. Most recommended of all time is Zone Alarm, its free, its effective!

http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/ ... GB&lang=en


When something wishes to connect to the internet your Zone Alarm firewall will bring up this warning, you can either Allow or Deny it. If it is a known program like Internet Explorer you can tick the 'Remember this setting' box and then click Allow, then it will never ask you again. In this image fdm.exe is asking for internet access, I had just started to download a file and know that this stands for File Download Manager so will accept it.

ANTI-VIRUS
Most computers get bundles with Anti-Virus software, but most of them are conning you into paying up 6months down the line or do your PC more harm than good. There is a free anti-virus called AVG Free which also has a email scanner included, simple and again effective, it does the basics and wont slow down your computer like the terrible Norton Anti-Virus rubbish.

http://free.grisoft.com/doc/downloads-p ... /0?prd=aff

ADAWARE
This is small programs/information on your computer that bombard you with pop-ups and other nasty adverts, to get rid of them download and install a program such as Lavasofts Adaware, also free if you choose to download the basic edition

http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php

SPYWARE
This is small programs/information that use your browsing on the net or computer to send out information about, this can be things as simple as what PC your using to the extreme of you credit card details. Again, one program thats free can solve it. Spybot Search & Destroy.

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/mirrors/index.html

MALICIOUS
This is a variety of things, again all sorted by one program - Windows Defender, however you must have a full and LEGAL version of Windows XP for this to work

http://www.microsoft.com/athome/securit ... fault.mspx


============================
MAINTENANCE

---

UPDATES
Not only should you keep all the above programs up to date, but the automatic windows updated should be allowed too. Then there is other things you can do...


EMPTY RECYCLE BIN
Sounds silly, but people sometimes miss this out for months at a time

DISK DEFRAG
This shifts all information into a more organised layout by the amount their used, so more used features are at the front for quicker access

DISK CLEANUP
Deletes unused files, temp files, empties the recycle bin for you, all Internet Eplorere temp files, all sorts


All the above can be found on the System Tools tab
START BUTTON >> ALL PROGRAMS >> ACCESSORIES >> SYSTEM TOOLS

================================
ANY QUESTIONS FEEL FREE TO ASK
================================

Aslong as you stay off dodgey websites your fine, but I suggest you use Firefox anyway

Could be alot of things, Id put it down to your PC age. Firefox is 3 times faster that Internet Explorer though - so you have the best browser already, and safest

BUMP! Now moved from the Elite member section for all