Archive for PC Care

Saafety whilst Surfing

November 27, 2007 at 3:14 pm · Filed under PC Care ·Tagged , , , ,

Lately we have seen quite a few site reports, emails and forum posts about virus and trojans on the traffic exchanges. That’s why I thought it was time for another “public service” post with some tips, tricks and education.

First of all… there will always be cheaters, hackers and other scumbags on the traffic exchanges and on the internet in general. So even though sites like Dragon Surf fights the good battle every day and tries to keep your PC clean, we can’t give you any guarantees and neither can any other site despite what they claim… That’s why it’s vitally important that you take the necessary precautions to protect your own computer.

What I’m going to share with you now is the combo I have been using to protect my computer(s) for the past 3 years. You don’t necessarily need to use the same software, but you do need to have all the components in place. A real benefit to my package is that it’s 100% free – Normally I’m a big believer in paying for quality, but in this case I don’t need to – So I can spend that money on advertising instead ;-)

Here are the components you need to adequately protect your computer while surfing, and my recommended software for the job.

1. You need a firewall
If you are using Windows XP or Vista you already have an in-built firewall and in my opinion it does the job just fine. You need to make sure it’s turned on at all times and that you get the regular updates from Microsoft.

2. You need anti-virus software
This is probably the most important component and I personally use Avast. The Avast home edition is free and all you have to do is download it and install it. Once you have it installed it you need to register for a key and that key will work for a full year (you can then get a new key). Avast offers all the real-time protection you need, it updates automatically once or twice a day. It will also scan and protect your email and you can do full system scans (I do that at least once a month).

You can download Avast for free here … And register for the key here.

3. You need spyware protection.
This is where most people get it wrong… anti-virus software is not enough. You also need to protect your computer against spyware and adware. Most free spyware protection only allows you to scan your PC but does offer real time protection. I have found one that does, it’s called Spyware Terminator and in my opinion it beats many of the paid solutions. Spyware terminator will work 24/7 blocking spyware before it reaches your PC and it will also automatically update with all the latest definitions.

You can dowload Spyware Terminator for free here.

4. My extra weapon
Even though I have Spyware Terminator I also use Ad-Aware from Lavasoft. The free version does not offer real-time protection so I just use it to do an extra scan once in a while to see if the other programs have missed something… The free version is great for this purpose.

You can download Ad-Aware for free here.

That was my 3 part protection combo and extra weapon. I can guarantee you that they will do a superb job at protecting your computer while surfing. But whatever you do, make sure that you have a firewall, anti-virus and spyware protection in place before you start your next surf session.

Got any question or comments, feel free to leave a comment to this post.

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How to Determine Your Browser’s Version

October 23, 2007 at 5:55 pm · Filed under PC Care ·Tagged , , , , ,

If you are using Internet Explorer

Watch The IE Video

If you are using Firefox

Watch The Firefox Video

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Virtual Memory

October 16, 2007 at 12:59 am · Filed under PC Care ·Tagged , , , ,

Q:
Can you please tell me what virtual memory is? I’m having a hard time understanding it. Thank you!

A:  Well, don’t feel too bad. I don’t think you’re the only one who is a bit confused by the term “virtual memory.” I have been getting e-mails left and right lately about this very thing, so I figured it was about time I did something about it. We’re just going to go slow today with a brief definition of the term and a few examples. Okay, here we go!

Basically, virtual memory is non-physical memory (yeah, that helps, huh?!)

More so, Windows uses virtual memory when it doesn’t have enough “regular” physical memory to perform a certain task. When it has to resort to that, Windows uses your hard drive to store information that would normally be put into your RAM memory. Here’s a simplified example:

Let’s say you have 32 MB of RAM available on your computer. Now, you load a program that takes up 20 MB and another that takes up 22 MB. For those two programs, you would need a total of 42 MB, but you only have 32 MB of actual RAM memory. However, both programs still run. What’s happening?

Well, Windows is using 10 MB of your hard drive space to supplement your physical 32 MB of RAM (don’t worry, that 10 MB will be erased once Windows is done with it).

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking. Why bother adding extra RAM to your computer if it can use hard drive space instead? Well, the main reason is, RAM is much faster!

Whenever you’re using a lot of virtual memory, you’re slowing your computer down (way down). The best work around for that is to get more physical memory. I recommend 64 to 128 MB, depending on how many programs you usually run on your computer, simultaneously.

Oh, and one more thing: If you don’t have a lot of hard drive space left (I recommend a minimum of 100 MB) and you’re experiencing a lot of problems, the lack of virtual memory may be why. When Windows runs out of memory (virtual and non-virtual), it just doesn’t run all that well. Alright, well, I hope this tip has helped all of you in understanding virtual memory a little bit better. Let me know if you have any other questions about it!

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Step 2: How To Determine Your Browser Version

September 26, 2007 at 12:46 am · Filed under PC Care ·Tagged , , ,

How To Determine Which Browser Version You Are Running

1. Open the browser you use to surf the internet

2. On your keyboard press and hold the Alt key

3. With the Alt key held down, press the H key

4. Release both the H key and the Alt Key

Firefox

1. Click on About Mozilla Firefox
Click Here To See The Video Tutorial

If you are running Firefox, the window that opens will look similar to the picture below. Notice the red circle. Under the word “Firefox” there is a version number. That is your browser version

Internet Explorer
1. Click on About Internet Explorer
Click Here To See The Video Tutorial

If you are running Internet Explorer, the window that opens will look similar to the picture below. Notice the red circle. Under the words “Internet Explorer” there is a version number. That is your browser version

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Step 3: How To Delete Cookies and Temporary Internet Files

September 26, 2007 at 12:45 am · Filed under PC Care ·Tagged , , , , ,

How To Delete Cookies and Temporary Internet Files

Internet Explorer 7.x
Click Here To Watch Tutorial

Internet Explorer 6.x
Coming Soon

Mozilla Firefox 2.x
Click Here To Watch Tutorial

Mozilla Firefox 1.x
Coming Soon

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Step 4: How To Defragment Your Hard Disk

September 26, 2007 at 12:42 am · Filed under PC Care ·Tagged , , ,

How To Defragment Your Hard Disk

What is Fragmentation?
In some operating system’s file systems, a data file over a certain size is stored in several “chunks” or fragments rather than in a single contiguous sequence of bits in one place on the storage medium, a process that is called fragmentation. This allows small unused sections of storage (for example, where old data has been deleted) to be reused. In the Windows 95 system, for example, files are fragmented and the location of the fragments for each file is kept in a file allocation table (FAT). Because fragmentation over time can slow data access (each fragment of a file must be accessed for the entire file to be read in), it is important to use a defragmenter utility so that the data on the storage medium can be reorganized. This process is called defragmentation. Thankfully, Microsoft has provided a utility named Defrag with every copy of Windows.

The following instructions will help you setup Defrag to run on your computer every night at 3:00 AM. This will keep help your computer run faster and extend the life of your hard drive

All Windows Versions EXCEPT Vista

Internet Explorer (all versions)
Click Here for the Internet Explorer Video Tutorial
1. Right click on the following link: Defrag Script
2. Save File to “My Documents”
2a. Click Save Target As
3. Open “My Documents”
4. Double click on the file U-M-G-PerfScript.bat
5. follow the instructions on the screen that comes up

Firefox (all versions)
Click Here for the Firefox Video Tutorial
1. Right click on the following link: Defrag Script
2. Click “Save Link As”
3. Select “My Documents”
4. Click Save
5. Open “My Documents”
6. Double click on the file U-M-G-PerfScript.bat
7. follow the instructions on the screen that comes up

Windows Vista
Coming Soon

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Step 5: Speed Up Your PC – Clean Up The Registry

September 26, 2007 at 12:36 am · Filed under PC Care ·Tagged , , , ,

Why Use Registry Cleaner Software?
Registry cleaner software eliminates the clutter and junk that builds up in your computer’s registry from installing and removing programs, deleting and creating files and surfing online which results in a fast optimized registry that keeps your computer running properly. Without such tune ups your computer can become sluggish, full of error messages and experience frequent system crashes.

What Is The Registry?
Think of your registry as a huge database that holds the complete inventory and location of every file, folder, program and process that resides on your computer. This information is used to tell programs how to run and locate the files needed to perform a certain task (kind of like an huge instruction booklet) When files or programs are added to or removed from your PC, the registry is modified to make note of these changes. Overtime the registry becomes bloated and disorganized as a result of these changes leading to poor PC performance.

Proper Registry Maintenance:
Manual repair and maintenance of the registry is an extremely complex task that only the most technically inclined should take on or you run the risk of losing critical data and personal information or even worse end up with a computer that doesn’t work at all. With the proper software, however, registry repair becomes a relatively stress free task that will improve your PC’s performance without the expensive support and maintenance bills or technical expertise.

Real-Time Registry Protection
If a bloated, disorganized registry causes your computer to run slowly and have lots of errors is a problem (and it is!), then real-time registry protection is the solution. With real-time protection, your registry is contstantly being monitored for unwated changes.

Registry Mechanic
The best registry cleaner software is Registry Mechanic by PCTools. We highly recommend using this product to clean and protect your Windows registry.

Click Here To Get Registry Mechanic From pctools.com

How To Install and Use Registry Mechanic
Video Tutorial Comming soon

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Step 6: Protect Your Privacy with Antispyware and Antivirus

September 26, 2007 at 12:32 am · Filed under PC Care ·Tagged , , , , , ,

Click Here To Watch a Video About Spyware

You may know spyware by one of its many names; adware, malware, trackware, scumware, thiefware, snoopware, sneakware.

Because of its stealthy nature, most Internet users are more familiar with the symptoms of spyware infection:

* sluggish PC performance
* increased pop-up ads
* unexplained homepage change
* mysterious search results.

For virtually everyone surfing the Internet, spyware is a nuisance, but if you do not detect spyware on your PC, it can lead to much more serious consequences like identity theft. Because of the threat that malware poses, a spyware removal tool installed on your PC is essential. Gathering spyware info also helps protect you from malicious attacks by adware or malware.

Spyware facts:

Experts view malware as a real threat to consumers and businesses. If you’re online, you should be concerned about spyware. You may want to consider adding an anti-spyware program to your PC to for complete spyware removal.

* Nine out of 10 PCs connected to the Internet are infected with spyware.*
* 88% of Spy Audit scans found some form of unwanted program (Trojan, system monitor, cookie or adware) on consumer computers.*
* Some form of spyware can be found on 87% of corporate PCs.*
* 86% U.S. adult Internet users believe that spyware on their computers has caused them to suffer a monetary loss, 2005.**

*State of Spyware Report

**eMarketer
Spyware in the news:

* “A hacker was able to access potentially 40 million credit card numbers by infiltrating the network of a company that processed payment data for MasterCard International and other companies.” InfoWorld, July 17, 2005
* “About 10 million Americans have their personal information pilfered and misused in some way or another every year, costing consumers $5 billion and businesses $48 billion annually.” Federal Trade Commission, June 21, 2005

How does spyware find you?

Even if you’re careful, you can pick up spyware through normal Internet activities.

* Visit any media-supported Web site and you’re bound to get a tracking cookie
* Share music, files or photos with other users
* Install software applications without fully reading license agreements

Isn’t spyware just another passing trend that will eventually fade away?

Unfortunately, no. Spyware makers have found a viable financial model that supports continued activity, whether it’s legal or not. Unlike most other Internet threats, such as viruses that are purely malicious in nature, malware creators profit enormously by selling information on your surfing habits, redirecting you to sites you didn’t intend to visit, or by bombarding you with pop-up ads. Since it is almost impossible to find and stop the makers of spyware, or reduce the lucrative financial opportunity, this trend is here to stay.
What can you do if you get spyware on your PC?

First, you should use a spyware scanner program designed for spyware detection to see if you’re infected with spyware. Once you know your infection level, you’ll be able to take back control of your computer.

If you don’t want it on your computer, you can try to remove spyware manually. However, spyware removal is a difficult and complicated process for even the most experienced computer user. For the best results, a spyware removal tool can detect spyware and safely remove the applications from your system.

We Highly Recommend Installing Webroot Spy Sweeper With Antivirus
Click Here To Download Spy Sweeper With Antivirus

Most Effective Combined Antispyware and Antivirus Product

Webroot Spy Sweeper is the industry leader in antispyware protection. Webroot’s antivirus detection is powered by Sophos�, known globally as a pioneer and industry leader in the fight against viruses. Together – you have the best protection possible against the top two security threats, spyware and viruses. One solution, twice the protection.
Take Back the Internet

When you install Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus software on your PC, you can go anywhere on the Internet without fear of infection. Webroot Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus gives you 360 degrees of protection. Powerful Smart Shields block threats as you browse – before they ever reach your computer. If your PC is already infected, your Spy Sweeper with AntiVirus software uses advanced discovery methods to find and completely destroy malicious programs hiding within your PC.

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