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Essential Computer Maintenance Tips

This document provides information on basic computer maintenance including how to protect against viruses, spyware, and perform regular cleaning. It recommends treating your computer like a car by performing regular "oil changes" such as deleting cookies and temporary files. Key threats include viruses, worms, spyware, and adware which can slow performance and enable identity theft. The document recommends using free antivirus software like Avast or BitDefender and spyware removal tools like AdAware or SpySweeper to clean infections. Basic maintenance includes deleting browser cache and history regularly.

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Harrison Mmari
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9 views12 pages

Essential Computer Maintenance Tips

This document provides information on basic computer maintenance including how to protect against viruses, spyware, and perform regular cleaning. It recommends treating your computer like a car by performing regular "oil changes" such as deleting cookies and temporary files. Key threats include viruses, worms, spyware, and adware which can slow performance and enable identity theft. The document recommends using free antivirus software like Avast or BitDefender and spyware removal tools like AdAware or SpySweeper to clean infections. Basic maintenance includes deleting browser cache and history regularly.

Uploaded by

Harrison Mmari
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Basic Computer Maintenance

Chatham University Information


Technology Team
How do you treat your car?
 You probably do at least the
following:
 Oil changes, air filter changes, antifreeze
fills etc.
 Why not treat your computer the
same way? After all, it is an appliance
(and costs as much as a used car).
Basic Terms
 Worms  Cache
 Trojans  IE (Internet
Explorer)
 Viruses
 Browser
 SpyWare
 AdWare
 OS
 LAN
 Network
Virus vs. Worm
 A virus stays on your computer and
your computer only.
 Worms crawl through networks.
 Unlike a worm, a virus cannot infect
other computers without
assistance. It is spread via trading
programs with others (file sharing
programs, email).
Spyware vs. Adware
 Symptoms: Sluggish Pc, Increased
pop-ups, homepage changes, strange
search results.
 Both are data miners, meaning they
are looking for information. Both
cause the above symptoms.
 Can lead to identity theft.
 9 out of 10 pc’s are infected.
 Good place to look for info?
[Link]
Spyware Removal
 You can try to do it manually- but is often
very difficult.
 Often it can disrupt major computer
processes.
 You can check out the following free
programs:
 AdAware
 SpySweeper (both versions, free&pay)
 NOTE: Please be careful when downloading
these tools, some programs claim to remove
spyware, but instead, come with their own
spyware embedded.
Top Spyware Threats
 PurityScan  Perfect Keylogger
 N-Case  TIBS Dialer
 Gator
 CoolWebSearch  For more
 Tansponder information on
 ISTbar/AUpdate these, visit:
 KeenValue
 [Link]
[Link]/spywareinfor
 Internet Optimizer mation/spywaretop
(bargain buddy) threats/
Antivirus
VERY VERY IMPORTANT
Antivirus Programs
 Norton and McAffee come with many
new computers for trial periods.
 After your “trial period” it will prompt
you to buy the program. What you
are paying for is to stay updated on
virus definitions (meaning the # of
viruses your antivirus is able to
detect). If you don’t stay up-to-date,
then your ability to ward off viruses
and remove them becomes limited.
Antivirus Programs contd…
 Free programs exist:
 Avast! Antivirus
 BitDefender
 Antivir
 Chatham University requires any
student with a computer on campus
have updated and functioning virus
protection on their computers.
Basic “Uncluttering” Steps

 Every web page you visit leaves its


mark. Go to Control Panel  Internet
Options Then delete cookies,
Temporary Internet Files, and
History. This will keep your machine
“fresh”.
In Conclusion…
 Be on the look out for unexpected
attachments and pop-ups.
 Stay away from sites that always
require you to download something.
 Have virus protection and a good
Spyware detector program.

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