• Hard drive running out of space
• Startup programs
• Internal dust causing overheating
• Virus scan or spy ware scan
• Corrupt files
• Fragmented hard drive

You should make sure there is plenty of room left on your hard drive. If it is running low on space you can either get an upgrade or delete old files or unused programs. It would also be helpful to erase all your temporary files as well as cookies.

The most common occurrence for computer slow down is forgotten or unnecessary applications constantly running in the background. It is very likely that when you get a new program or application it automatically adjusts its settings to run every time you start your computer. Open up the task manager and see what applications you have running. If you find anything that sounds unfamiliar or that you would just prefer not to have running, you should go to the add or remove programs manager in the control panel and remove them.

An overheating computer can greatly slow down its processing. Your computer should be ventilated to allow air to flow through and keep it from over heating. This is helpful but also problematic since it brings dust into your computer which can greatly add up over time. You should occasionally open up the case of the PC and blow any dust out.

If pop-up windows are constantly bombarding your screen, even when you’re not using your computer, that can be a big factor in the lack of speed of your computer. Pop-ups are usually caused by spyware or a virus that has infected your computer. The solution to this problem is purchasing an anti virus program and have it running at all times.

Although it doesn’t matter which anti virus program you use, it is important to make sure it is always up to date. Regular scans of your system can be scheduled to be performed automatically, or you can initiate them manually.

A corrupt file can also seriously slow down your computer and can even keep it from working properly or booting up at all. The solution to this is running the scan disk utility.

Fragmented files are files or documents that may have not been stored in the most efficient way and will make it hard for your computer to open them. To take care of your fragmented files, click on Start, then programs, then go to accessories > system tools > disc defragmenter. Defragment all of the given drives. Defragmentation may take a while to complete, but the possible resulting increase in speed makes it very worth while.

Not to take anything away from Windows Firewall, which is an effective basic product, but it does not offer anything close to the protection of the firewalls provided by leading antivirus and internet security companies. With the sophistication of hackers increasing all the time, youíll want a firewall that is also constantly evolving and being updated with the latest security information.

One common misconception is that only computers connected to the internet via broadband or some other type of high speed connection need a firewall. While it is true that these types of computers are more frequently targeted by thieves, that does not mean that computers on a dial-up connection are necessarily safe. Any computer connected to the internet needs to have an effective firewall running.

Without a firewall, your computer would be completely vulnerable to attack from the internet. Hackers could easily connect to your computer, transmit harmful information, and even steal your personal information and data.

One big difference between the basic Windows Firewall and more advanced firewall programs is that Windows Firewall only regulates incoming requests. The reason this still leaves you so vulnerable is because if you happen to contract a virus or some other type of malware, that malicious program may take your information and attempt to relay it to the criminal that distributed the harmful code in the first place. For instance, if you contract spyware that steals the online usernames and passwords you have saved in your browser, the virus will then attempt to send that information back to the source of that malware. If you have an effective firewall application running, however, such a transmission may not be allowed to occur.

Similarly, having a router that controls access to your home computer network is similar to the above scenario. You computer router will not allow non-trusted incoming requests, but it has no way to regulate outgoing requests. A powerful firewall is still needed to totally protect all of the computers on your network.

Another reason that the basic firewall as well as the firewall protection provided by routers is inadequate is simply because the technology is somewhat outdated. Hackers, for the most part, have already developed ways to get around these basic types of firewalls, and routinely do so in efforts to steal information or harm computers.

Upgrading to a full service firewall will give you the peace of mind of knowing that you are being protected by the latest technology that is constantly being improved upon by antivirus experts. Many internet security suite software packages include powerful firewalls that are regularly updated along with the rest of the software to keep it up to date and keep you safe from the latest threats.

If youíre unsure of which firewall program is best for you, take a look at some of the reviews online to get a better understanding of which products offer the best service and value. You might start by researching the security products of the top companies such as Norton and McAfee, both trusted names in PC security.

Behavior Blocking
The process of technology blocking malware from accessing certain parts of your operating system is known as behavior blocking. Due to the fact that all antivirus applications function by detecting, cleaning, and preventing infections using virus definitions that are signatures of known threats, they have to be updated in order for you to be protected against new threats. A good example of behavior blocking is in an instance where the technology is used to prevent a virus from sending infected emails to everyone in your address book by blocking access to your address book. Another example is when behavior blocking prevents a virus from being able to terminate any of your systems key processes.

In-Memory Threats
Most types of viruses infect a file, and then the associated viral code runs whenever the application is running. Antivirus scanners scan all the files and folders on your system looking for such an infection. Certain types of infections, such as the W32 Slammer, infect an application as it is running and are never actually written to disk. Since antivirus scanners work by looking for infections in files as opposed to application memory, these types of infections go undetected. If an in-memory security exploit is known to exist in any application, it should be disabled or corrected as soon as possible.

Hackers
Hackers are a very real threat for anyone that has a computer connected to the internet. Basic antivirus software does not provide protection specifically against hacker attacks. In order to best protect your computer from hackers, you’ll need firewalls, intrusion alert systems, and general awareness of what is going on with your system. Some major antivirus software developers offer total security suites that do provide protection against hackers and other online threats, as well as protection for your home or work network. While these types of software usually cost a bit more than traditional antivirus software, they are a wise investment, especially for people that regularly transfer personal information over the internet.

Spyware
Spyware is an often malicious although sometimes simply annoying type of application that records information about your habits on the computer. Spyware is usually designed for either criminal or commercial purposes. As it stands now, most antivirus programs do not scan for these types of applications. However, there are several spyware removal tools available online, and some are even free. Spyware can be very annoying and it can also use up valuable system resources that may result in reduced overall PC performance. Keep in mind, however, that sometimes spyware is bundled with software and is required to be left installed on your machine in order for you to continue using the software that it came with. Information about such spyware can usually be found in the terms of service you must agree to before installing the software that it was bundled with.

• John Mccain Taps Osama Bin Laden As Running Mate
• Earthquake in California destroys Schwarzenegger house
• Obama caught with pants down
• Queen Elizabeth abducted in Tibet
• Yankee Stadium demolished
• Pope killed by assasin in Vatican City
• Angelina Jolie dies in miscarriage
• Coral reefs found extinct
• New York Yankees team killed in bus crash

As you can see, the subject lines range from vague to just plain absurd. However, they still manage to get the attention of thousands. This tactic is commonly used to spam unsuspecting email users. Once Trojan spam is opened, there is usually a link to a site that will load the Trojan onto the user’s computer, or there is an attachment containing the Trojan in the email itself.

Sometimes the subject lines are a bit less extreme, and therefore are more likely to get the attention of those that know better than to open emails with hard to believe subject lines such as the previous examples. These subject lines will instead be based on some current event or news story, like ‘Cell phone radiation risks uncovered‘. They may also coincide with entertainment news, posing as links to articles about whatever film or television show is popular at the time.

Once an unfortunate user is duped into downloading the Trojan onto their computer, they may very likely become a host for the Trojan. Their computer and internet connection will then be manipulated by the infection to send out similar Trojan spam to everyone that is in their address book. As you can see, this gives Trojan spam incredible potential to spread like wildfire. So, how do you make sure you’re protected from this type of attack?

First and foremost, never open emails from an un-trusted source, no matter what the subject may be. Even if you do, do not download any attachments or follow any links contained within the email. Using your own diligence is your first line of defense against virus attacks.

Second, if you aren’t already, you need to be running an up to date antivirus application. The more elaborate the protection, the better. Some companies like McAfee, Trend Micro, and Norton offer total security suites that offer protection for just about everything the internet can try to throw at you. Even if you do slip up at some point and allow some type of malware such as a Trojan to invade your computer, a quality security utility will immediately detect it and then take the necessary steps to remove it. In some cases, the security software will detect the harmful program before it is even allowed to be saved to your computer. Do your own research and weigh your options when selecting a security solution. You certainly have a lot to choose from.

Keeping your windows registry clean and free of any errors is crucial in maintaining the performance of your PC. A poorly maintained registry may result in system instability, with program crashes being one of the most common side effects.

The registry is a centralized hierarchical database that is used to store computer configuration information. Windows needs this information in order to properly run your system, including all of your installed applications as well as hardware devices. The windows registry does not only save the location and file path of these items, it also saves other details that are used by the processor to locate programs and hardware devices efficiently, which in turn decreases the overall processing time.

The windows registry keeps records of each and every item present, including details on:

• Installed applications
• User profiles, settings, and preferences
• Property settings for applications as well as folders
• Installed hardware devices
• Ports in use
• System policies
• File associations

When do Registry Problems Occur?
Recent estimates state that about 94% of all computers have corrupt and potentially harmful files. Each PC will on average have bout 150 or more errors due to missing or corrupt registry entries.

If your system is relatively new, you will probably not need to make any changes to your registry. However, as time goes by, your registry will grow and collect more data as you add and remove software as well as hardware. These accumulated changes to the registry will eventually cause it to become fragmented, and very likely corrupted.

Some Common Errors:

• Missing, abandoned, broken or bad application/Windows paths, links and shortcuts.
• Unused Start Menu items
• Unwanted browser objects
• Missing/corrupt application IDs
• Corrupt Active X/COM Objects
• Unused files and drivers
• Several more

Whenever you remove software from your system, it is very likely that residuals from that software are still present on your hard drive and in your registry. The more software that is added and removed, the more this effect is compounded. The end result is frequent error messages, slowed startup, declining system performance, applications freezing/crashing, and in some cases, even a total inability to start Windows altogether.

Backing up the Registry
Before you attempt to edit your registry, it is imperative that you back it up, just to protect your system in case you make an error. To do this, you can use the built in Windows backup utility to back up the System State data. You can also use third party backup software such as WinBackUp.

Registry Booster
If you’re like most people, the idea of editing your Windows registry sounds like a daunting task. This convenient application makes it easy to optimize your registry and cure any possible problems. It also contains a backup feature, so everything you need to safely repair your registry is included within the software.

First, we’ll discuss the two main factors that contribute to this problem that security software has the greatest time dealing with: reverse engineering and social engineering.

Reverse engineering is the process of picking apart software by studying its means of detection in an effort to find a security flaw or to create a way around it. This method of bypassing antivirus security has been used by hackers for quite some time and is particularly effective against computers that are running outdated antivirus software. Therefore, the best way to protect yourself from reverse engineering tactics is to keep your antivirus software up to date.
An even easier way for hackers to bypass your antivirus security is by using social engineering, a process that exploits the human element to access the computer.

The most typical methods of social engineering are:

• Fraudulent emails
• Email attachments that claim to be very important
• Free offers that contain hidden programs
• Web sites discretely load software onto your machine when you click on a link

Of all the different types of computers that are online, the average household computer with a high-speed internet connection is by far the most targeted for attack. Teenagers are a very high risk group, since they are known to visit just about any website without hesitating. Teenagers are also the biggest users of file sharing software such as Limewire, KaZaa, and torrent clients, where infected files are constantly being distributed.

Additionally, teenagers spend a great deal of time on social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook, which are notorious for being targeted by hackers. ‘Phishing’ is the method of tricking the user into revealing personal information such as usernames and passwords. One popular phishing method is to direct unsuspecting users to an imposter site designed to look like a trusted site where they may already have an account and prompting them to enter their username and password. The information is then collected and relayed to hackers who may have several malicious uses for it. This is a particularly significant threat for those who do banking online or use sites that deal with currency exchange such as PayPal.

Residential computers, in general, tend to have a higher level of virus as well as spyware infections, primarily to do the way that they are used.
If you are running up to date antivirus software and your system still manages to contract infections, it may be due to a ‘liveware’ problem, which means someone that has access to your computer is using it for high-risk activity that may be allowing viruses to bypass basic antivirus detection. Educating everyone in your household about the dangers of using the internet and explaining to them how to go about their business online safely may likely prevent any future infections from occurring.

So, why is additional security for Outlook and Outlook Express even necessary? Well, email is still by far the most common way that malware is distributed. Computer worms in particular take advantage of Microsoft Outlook by resending itself to everyone in the address book of the infected computer. This triggers a chain reaction that spreads the infection incredibly rapidly. Lack of email security is among one of the biggest problems in the battle against computer viruses and other types of malware. Lets take a look at what you can do to enhance the security of MS Outlook and Outlook Express.

Disable HTML
Although it can make emails look more attractive, it definitely has its drawbacks. For instance, many spammers include tracking codes within the HTML of their emails to get information about you. If there records indicate that you opened a piece of spam mail, it will likely result in you receiving even more spam in the future. HTML may also be used to manipulate links within the email so the spammer may direct you somewhere different then where the link suggests. Worst of all, active content can be used within HTML-rendered email that can cause attachments to download automatically, posing a significant risk if the attachment happens to contain a virus or some other type of malware.

Disabling HTML in Microsoft Outlook Express:

1. In Outlook Express, select Tools > Options
2. Select the Read tab and select ‘Read all messages in plain text’
3. Click the Send tab. Under ‘Mail Sending Format’, select “Plain text”
4. Click “Apply”, then “OK”.

To change email ‘read’ settings to plain text in Microsoft Outlook 2003:

1. Click  Tools > Options
2. Select Preferences > Email Options
3. Select “Read all standard mail in plain text”
4. Click OK

In Microsoft Outlook 2007:

1. Click Tools > Trust Center
2. Choose E-mail Security
3. Select “Read all standard mail in plain text”
4. Click OK.

MS Outlook 2002 can also be changed to only read emails in plain text, but it will require a registry edit to do so. It is highly recommended that you upgrade to either Outlook 2003 or Outlook 2007.
To further secure Outlook and Outlook Express, you should disable all ActiveX and Java in the Restricted Sites zone. This can be done in Internet Explorer using the following menu items:
Tools > Internet Options > Security > Restricted Sites > Custom Level
Set the restrictions to ‘Custom Level’ and go through all of the options for scripting of Java or ActiveX.
After making these adjustments, youíll need to add Outlook or Outlook Express (whichever you’re currently using) to this zone. From within Outlook/Outlook Express, choose Tools > Options > Security, and then select the Restricted Zone.
As a final step in securing your mail client, make sure your operating system is up to date. Receiving regular updates from Windows will ensure that you have the best possible protection.

Computer Viruses
There was a time when viruses were distributed almost exclusively through email attachments. While that is still a very common way that viruses are spread, there are even more ways nowadays. Some viruses can be contracted by simply visiting a website that is hosted on a virus infected server. Harmful code may be downloaded by your web browser upon visiting such as site that is then saved to your computer. For this reason, you should always be cautious about clicking links to websites that you are not familiar with.

Phishing
Phishing is a malicious and often times criminal practice of tricking web surfers into divulging personal information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, and more. Most phishing attempts are made via email, by sending fraudulent emails made to look like they are sent from legitimate sources, requesting personal information. It is important to keep in mind that no financial institution is going to ask you to submit your personal information back to them, by email or by any other means. They already have this information on file, and it is usually against their policy to ask you to furnish that information anyway. Often fraudulent emails will contain links that take the unsuspecting web surfer to an imposter site that is set up to look exactly like a legitimate site to gain the trust of the victim. The user is then prompted to login with their sensitive information and it is then stolen by the criminals. PayPal customers are a big target for this type of scam. Always check the address bar to make sure you’re actually on the site that you appear to be.

Online Shopping Precautions
The convenience of shopping online is definitely a luxury, but there is substantial risk associated with it. However, with a bit of caution the risk can be eliminated. First of all, only shop from sites that you trust. If you’re unsure about the reputation of any particular website, do a quick Google search to see what people are saying about it. If there is anything fraudulent about the site, you’ll likely find out about it. Also, as mentioned earlier, be sure to check the address bar while you’re on the site and make sure that the website address matches the site that you are on.

If you decide to make a purchase, be sure that the checkout page is secure. In many browsers this is indicated by a padlock symbol somewhere at the bottom of the window. You can also tell by looking in the address bar. A secure page’s address will begin with https:// as opposed to http://. This indicates that any information you transmit through that page will be encrypted so that it can’t be intercepted by a third party (such as a hacker).

Using all of the above information will vastly improve your chances of remaining unscathed by viruses and other malicious threats online, but in order to fully protect yourself, youíll need high quality security software. You can get antivirus and antispyware products separately, or you can purchase and entire security suite that will give you all-inclusive protection. Do your research online to find which security software is best for you.

It’s called ransomware. Essentially, it works by holding your data hostage and requiring you to make a payment to regain access to it. Unlike traditional viruses that just wipe out data, ransomware makes encrypted copies of your data and then erases the original data. In order for your computer to be able to access these files, it needs the encryption code. If you try to access such data on your computer, you’ll be prompted with a message reading something like the following:

Your files have been fully encrypted with a sophisticated algorithm. To gain access to these files, you’ll need to purchase our decrypting too, which you can buy at xxx

In some cases you are directed to pay directly for this decryption software, but in others you have to make several purchases at other websites. No matter what the details, the fact remains that you will be asked to pay money for access to your own files. So, what should you do in this situation? Well, you have two options.

1. Agree to the terms and pay the ransom.
2. Find a way around the ransomware and recover as much data as possible.

Paying the Ransom
Aside from having to admit defeat to the criminals, there are several possible problems associated with deciding to pay to get your files back. First of all, you’ll have to reveal your payment information to these criminals. Whoís to say they won’t use it to further steal from you? Second, what guarantee do you have that you will actually be given access to your files if you do choose to pay?

Try to Crack the Code
Obviously the more desirable solution, getting around the ransomware and decoding the encryption code might be difficult but it is not impossible. The first versions of ransomware that came came out had very weak encryptions, making the codes fairly easy to break. Gaps in their programming made them vulnerable to reverse engineering which could decipher the code. The latest version of ransomware uses the RSA-1024 encryption algorithm, which is very advanced and difficult to crack, even for the most skilled programmers.

Reformatting
If all else fails, you can always reformat your computer. The obvious downside to this is that you will lose all of your data, and you computer will be restored to how it was the first day you booted it up. The upside is that you will also effectively delete the ransomware that is holding your computer hostage.

Try to Find the Code
Although the very latest version of this malware has yet to be hacked, that doesn’t necessarily mean that previous versions haven’t had their encryption codes available online. You should definitely do a Google search of the name of your particular virus and see what comes up. You might just find instructions on how to unlock your data yourself.

Restore from a Back-up
Depending on how long it has been since your last data backup, you might be able to use the backed up data to restore your computer and rid it of the annoying ransomware. However, any data created since the last backup will be lost. Also, even if a restore is successful, it’s important to remember that your computer is back to being as vulnerable as it was before it received the infection, so you should consider enhancing your systems security.

Protect Your Password
Your online banking password is the key to your bank account. Therefore, crooks spend a great deal of time coming up with clever new ways to get that very piece of information from you. To prevent anyone from guessing your password, it is highly recommended that you use a random combination of letters and numbers. If your online banking platform supports case-sensitive passwords, it also helps to include a capital letter or two. The longer your password is, the better (although there are usually limits). To further protect your password, you should change it periodically.

Do Not Open Suspicious Emails
‘Phishing’ is the practice of tricking the consumer into revealing personal information (such as passwords, account numbers, PINs, etc) by posing as legitimate companies that claim to need the information. These emails may contain the logo of the company they are claiming to represent, but do not be mislead. No legitimate banking institution will ever email you asking for your personal information. If you have an account with them, they already have that information. These emails usually contain a link to a site that is designed to look identical to the institution they are impersonating. If you were to enter your banking information on this fake site, it would be immediately relayed to the criminals. If you’re ever unsure about a website, check the address bar to make sure that the URL of the website matches the official site of the company.

The most obvious indications that such an email is fraudulent and should be discarded are failed attempts at correctly addressing you by name, grammatical errors, or links within the email directing you to domains that you have never heard of. If anything about the format of the email deviates from how emails from your financial institutions usually look, then you should be suspicious. If you are still uncertain of whether or not an email is authentic or if it is fraudulent, contact your banking institution’s customer service to have them verify.

AntiVirus Software and Firewalls

It is imperative that your computer is protected with a high quality antivirus utility. There are tons of antivirus review sites online that can help you make an informed decision as to which antivirus software is best for you.
Communicate with your Bank
Don’t hesitate to contact your financial institution at the first sign of trouble. They deal with identity theft and fraudulent activity all the time and they will be able to advise you in your particular situation. If you accidentally submit your information to a fraudulent website, contact them right away and let them know about it. This will help minimize or even prevent trouble from occurring. Keep your contact information up to date with your bank so that they can get in touch with you quickly if they see any suspicious activity in your account.