Computer Maintenance Tips

Software Options

I’ve been making it a point lately to do some time-consuming, but necessary computer maintenance to my PC.  It’s never fun, but if I want my computer to run at optimal speed, it’s something I have to take the time to do.

There’s tons of posts, as well as descriptions for products I used when I had my eBay Store that I don’t need on my hard-drive any longer, so I’ve transferred them over via my Western Digital Passport Portable Hard Drive.  Also, I’ve been archiving to CD many of the photos that I use for my product reviews.

I’ve covered some aspects of computer safety in previous posts.  In the time of rapidly advancing technology, it’s more necessary than ever for everyone, not just WAHMs to protect your computer. Criminals have risen to the challenge and can use this technology to steal your information. Install software that searches for the criminal element and eliminates it from ever being a problem.

There’s another dilemma -  with so many antivirus products on the market, which one do you choose? There is no right and wrong answers here but some people are concerned about the difference between the free programs offered and the ones that you have to pay a yearly subscription for.

Let’s backtrack a bit and talk about viruses.

Unlike the ones that humans deal with, the computer variety can be found and eliminated before they cause trouble. Computer viruses get into your hard drive and wreak havoc. They slow your computer down by taking up your hard drive space. Once there, they can infect your programs and steal personal and financial information. What you’re left with is a big mess that is a pain in the you-know-what to fix.

Antivirus software may come pre-installed on your computer. If it does, it’s likely a free trial or a paid subscription that you ordered with the system. Either way, its job is to detect viruses within items on your hard drive and remove them according to your specifications. When the paid subscription is up for renewal, you’ll receive pop-up messages warning you that your system is about to be left unprotected.

What many computer owners don’t know is that you DO have a choice. You don’t have to pay for antivirus, when many companies offer anti-virus software for free. You must have certainly heard the adage, “You get what you pay for” but just like everything else, it’s best to shop wisely before making a choice.

Ideally you’ll want antivirus protection to alert you when a virus is trying to hack your system. Also, spyware falls into this category. The software will let you know if spyware a danger from anything that you have or will download.

A free program can do that is so much the better for you. Free doesn’t mean cheap, just minimal. Some companies offer a program that does what you need, but offers the extra bells and whistles for a fee. Depending upon your computer usage, the bells and whistles may not be needed. They take up extra hard drive space and almost never get used.  I recommend and use AVAST.

For a person like yourself who’s careful about where they go on the Internet, the basics of free anti-virus protection most likely will work. Protecting yourself with some basic surfing and downloading guidelines is half the battle.

Here’s some advice to keep in mind when making your decision -

While you’re still within the free 30-day trial that the manufacturer gave you, compare free and paid software. If the free software gives you what you need, go for it. You can always change later.

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