Running Slow

There is no simple or single answer to this question, but some of the following are common causes and a good place to start trying to resolve this problem.

• Computer is infected with spyware or viruses

• Inadequate RAM installed.

• Hard disk drive has inadequate free space.

• Registry has errors and is fragmented.

• Poor quality or unsuitable hardware.
  
  

Check For Malware

The expression Malware (MALicious softWARE)is a general term used to describe a variety of forms of hostile, intrusive, or annoying software or program code. Malware includes computer viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, dishonest adware, crimeware and other malicious and unwanted software.

While the term spyware suggests software that secretly monitors the user's behaviour, the functions of spyware extend well beyond simple monitoring. Spyware programs can collect various types of personal information, such as Internet surfing habits, sites that have been visited, but can also interfere with user control of the computer in other ways, such as installing additional software, redirecting Web browser activity, accessing websites blindly that will cause more harmful viruses, or diverting advertising revenue to a third party. Spyware can even change computer settings, resulting in slow connection speeds, different home pages, and loss of Internet or other programs. These undesirable files are most often loaded into your computer by websites, either underground sites or bona fide sites that have themselves been hacked and modified to distribute spyware.

In a computerized setting, such as the Internet, there is a wide variety of privacy threats to consider. Threats vary from the systematic capture of everyday events (e.g., what online sites are visited or what items are purchased from online stores) to mass marketing based on the retrieval of personal information, hence spam offers and telemarketing calls are more common than ever.

Adware displays advertisements and other commercial content often based upon personal information retrieved by spyware programs.

Keyloggers record users’ keystrokes in order to monitor user behaviour.

Data-harvesting software programs gather e-mail addresses and result in that spam e-mail messages fill networks and computers with unsolicited commercial content.

Spyware/Malware can be removed with a good spyware remover program such as Ad Aware, or internet security suites such as CA vet, Trend or AVG.

The inbuilt Windows firewall is quite basic in it's functionality. For a more configurable and secure solution use a product like the well know Zone Alarm.

 

and then there is SPAM.....

If SPAM is the bane of your email client it is time you installed a filter/scanner, such as this service from Elitescanner.

Browse More Safely

A first simple step is to install a third party browser such as Firefox or Opera, and then after transferring all of your IE favourites to your new browser, uninstall Internet Explorer.

if you have youngsters using the computer the installation of an application such as 'Net Nanny' or K9 is a good way of allowing them freedom on the internet. Do remember though that none of these programs are 100% effective, but combined with education and a little monitoring they go along way towards keep the dark side of the internet at bay. CA vet Internet Security comes complete with a site filter, so you can get the complete security suite in one package. The Government also has a free filter and much good advice regarding keeping your kids safe on the net.

In general, any window that 'pops up' uninvited, is only worth closing. If you get caught in a loop, where a window re-opens itself or another similar window, hold the 'alt' key and press F4. This will kill the window without having to click on it.

Make sure you are getting value for money from your ISP

Take a look at Broadband Plan Comparisons to see how well you are doing with your current ISP.

Windows Updates

What is a Windows Update, and do I need to use it?
Windows Update is simply Microsoft engineers working to fix bugs and security problems such as backdoors in the Windows operating system and suites such as MS Office.
When Microsoft released windows it was far from being a perfectly secure operating system, and so as bugs and security vulnerabilities are discovered (usually as the result of a successful hack) the software engineers work to 'patch' that particular problem. Every version of Windows becomes more and more sophisticated, and one would hope more secure and stable. But as there has always been security problems with Windows it must be assumed that ultimate responsibility for security must lie with the end user .... that's you.

So to answer the question - should I use windows update? If you've got a lot of infrastructure you want to protect, yes. If you have just one PC at home, one laptop; even a few computers thrown together in your home network, then the answer is no. There are both for and againsts, and in the home user environment I have see more ill effects from updates that went wrong, than attacks from a lack of having the latest security patches. If you do decide to download and install the latest patches make sure that you set a system restore point prior to starting, and as before any major change to your computer, back up all critical data to an external media.
A firewall and good anti-virus and anti-spyware program are essential components of today's computing..