Helpful Tips and Links

Computer seem slow? Looking for an affordable anti-virus program that won't ask for your credit card number?
Here you'll find tips an links to cool and useful programs.

Anti-Virus Protection

Viruses are at an all time high. It's been quite frustration for many users. Quite simply, you need anti-virus protection. Most people are familiar with Norton and McAfee. These do the job, but they are not free, plus they expire over time, and eventually start asking you for your credit card number to upgrade. Here are a few altenatives:

AVG FREE EDITION - Yes free. This program provides full system protection, including incoming and outgoing email. Also has auto-update, and auto-scan features that you can control. I use this program myself.

avast! antivirus Home Edition - This is also a very good free program. Automatic updates, etc. Registration is required, but it's free.

AntiVir Personal Edition - Another free Antivirus program.

Trend Micro - Free online virus Scan - This website will scan your computer for viruses directly. This is great for a checkup, but does not offer continuous protection.

BitDefender Free Online Virus Scan - Another free online virus scan.

Spyware / Adware

This is a reletively new phenomenon. Many "free" programs (like Kazaa) have other hidden programs attached to them. These hidden programs run in the background, slowing down your computer. Some of these programs give you pop-ups, even though you're not surfing the net. Some of them are simply gathering information about you, then sending that information back out to companies on the net.

Here are the top 2 programs for killing SpyWare and Adware:

Spybot Search & Destroy - Free, but feel free to donate.

Ad-Aware - There are Free and Pay-for versions of this program.

Web and Email

Microsoft has been trying to plug the many security holes in Internet Explorer. Why wait for them to get it right? You can download Mozilla Firefox right now for Free.

For your emailing pleasure, I recommend the Free email client, Mozilla Thunderbird.

Hard Drive Fragmentation

One of the most common things that slows down a computer is Hard Drive Fragmentation. What does this mean, you say? A Hard Drive becomes fragmented over time. Think of a library that doesn't have all it's books in order. When you go to look for those books again, it takes a lot longer to find them. Defragmenting a hard drive puts all your files back together in order, so to speak. This alone speeds up your computer considerably.
If you are using Windows 2000 or Windows XP, you already have a good Defragmenter. Just click Start -> Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Defragmenter.
If you are using Windows 95, 98, 98 S.E., or Me, you may find the defragmenter that you have to be of little to no use.

You can try Diskeeper at www.executive.com.

OR you can try Perfectdisk at www.raxco.com.

 

 

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