Fortunately, you’re in control of most of it.
your gear should be creating backups as often as possible, preferably continuously.
Your data is the most important stuff you own.
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We review dozens of these online backup services and take a fresh look at each one again every month.
All are great choices and prevent just about any chance of you losing your important stuff.
In response, antivirus software has to respond just as quickly.
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In other words, your antivirus software only worked 100% the day you installed it.
As unfortunate as that is, there’s great news: you just need to keep it updated.
These “out of date” alerts are easy to avoid, but try your best to address them.
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The majority ofsoftware patchesthese days, especially the ones Microsoft pushes for Windows, correct “security” issues.
One worst-case scenario of avoiding these is that you could inadvertently provide someone remote access to your box!
Fortunately,Windows can install them for you automatically.
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However you’re notified about the update, promptly apply it.
Other software and app updates are important, too, and for similar reasons.
You’re Not Using Strong Passwords
We all use passwords.
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Most of the devices and services we use require that we do.
What can’t be said is that we all usegoodpasswords.
So what’s the answer here?
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Maybe you’ve heard of password managers.
They let you store hard-to-remember passwords toallof your accounts in one place.
All you’re gonna wanna do is remember a single password for the manager itself.
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Windows 11is the newest edition that will receive updates for longer than any other current version of Windows.
If you’re running something older thanWindows 10, it’s time to think about upgrading.
What you might not know is that there are different levels of free software.
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It’s therefore important to knowhow to safely download softwareto your rig.
You’ve Left Junk Installed…and Probably Running!
The bulk of the blame for this one is with your system maker.
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Unfortunately, most people have little to no use for these programs.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Fortunately, this problem is easy to fix, at least in Windows.
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Search online for more information about any programs you’re not sure about.
When it can be an issue is when the free space on the drive gets too low.
To avoid problems, we recommend keeping 10 percent of your main drive’s total capacity free.
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You cancheck free hard drive space in Windowsif you’re not sure how much you have.
In Windows, a really handy included tool calledDisk Cleanupwill take care of most of this for you.
If you want something that does even more of a detailed job,CCleaneris also excellent and completely free.
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Fragmentation happens naturally as your setup’s hard drive writes data all over the place.
In other words, a dirty computer is a hot computer, and hot computers fail.
It’s easy to clean a computer fan.
Buy a can of compressed air and use it to clean the dust from any fan in your box.
Amazon has tons of compressed air choices, some as cheap as a few dollars a can.
In desktops, be sure not to miss the ones in the power supply and in the case.
Increasingly, video cards, RAM, and sound cards have fans, too.
Seehow to clean a flat screen computer monitorfor help.
Well, the huge majority of them, anyway.
No, not all of them, but most…yes.
Seethese five simple fixes for most computer problems.
All of those things are great.
Consider yourself lucky that they worked out.
What if you don’t have a 12-year-old computer genius living upstairs?
What if none of your social media friends are techie types?
