Computer Spring Cleaning Part 1 Andrea Mercado Reference & Techie Librarian Reading Public Library

The Plan Overview of Windows XP beginner maintenance techniques Basic information about keeping your clean computer free of internet scumware Brief demos Pointers to detailed information to get you started at home

Overview of Windows XP beginner maintenance techniques

Basic information about keeping your clean computer free of internet scumware

Brief demos

Pointers to detailed information to get you started at home

Basic Maintenance Starts with keeping things tidy: Save files to My Documents Desktop is *not* storage Organize your files into folders Shortcuts for frequently used programs only Purge unnecessary files and programs

Starts with keeping things tidy:

Save files to My Documents

Desktop is *not* storage

Organize your files into folders

Shortcuts for frequently used programs only

Purge unnecessary files and programs

Organize Your Files Create folders in My Documents by topic: http://tinyurl.com/23qq9q Know where your stuff lives Search for files is faster and easier Back up is easier Tell programs to save to My Documents

Create folders in My Documents by topic: http://tinyurl.com/23qq9q

Know where your stuff lives

Search for files is faster and easier

Back up is easier

Tell programs to save to My Documents

Desktop Cleanup Wizard Delete unused desktop icons: http://tinyurl.com/yo2eqp Start > Control Panel > Appearance and Themes > Display Properties Unused Desktop Shortcuts folder New programs don’t always need shortcuts

Delete unused desktop icons: http://tinyurl.com/yo2eqp

Start > Control Panel > Appearance and Themes > Display Properties

Unused Desktop Shortcuts folder

New programs don’t always need shortcuts

Purge, Purge, Purge Frees up space, computer runs faster & better Delete unwanted files to Recycle Bin: http://tinyurl.com/2hjq6m Empty Recycle Bin = DELETE FOREVER For the paranoid: backup (next week!) Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs: http://tinyurl.com/237lde

Frees up space, computer runs faster & better

Delete unwanted files to Recycle Bin: http://tinyurl.com/2hjq6m

Empty Recycle Bin = DELETE FOREVER

For the paranoid: backup (next week!)

Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs: http://tinyurl.com/237lde

Fill in the Holes: Defragment Deleting files/data creates holes in storage The bigger the holes between data bits, the slower the machine will function Solution = Defragment (a.k.a. Defrag): http://tinyurl.com/2ud6ct Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter

Deleting files/data creates holes in storage

The bigger the holes between data bits, the slower the machine will function

Solution = Defragment (a.k.a. Defrag): http://tinyurl.com/2ud6ct

Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter

Keeping Out The Riff-Raff Firewall Automatics updates Antivirus software Antispyware software Details: http://tinyurl.com/2ytt2t

Firewall

Automatics updates

Antivirus software

Antispyware software

Details: http://tinyurl.com/2ytt2t

Firewall Protects computer from Internet evils, such as hackers, viruses, & worms Examines data, decides safeness, stops data or lets it pass

Protects computer from Internet evils, such as hackers, viruses, & worms

Examines data, decides safeness, stops data or lets it pass

Choosing a firewall How to choose, for the beginner: http://tinyurl.com/2yxn6s Software: protects each computer Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall (free): http://tinyurl.com/2fggbw Panda Antivirus+ Firewall 2007 ($49.95, up to 3 PCs) http://tinyurl.com/227r5h Windows Live OneCare ($49.95/yr, up to 3 PCs): http:// tinyurl.com/yrnqmp Hardware (routers): protects a network Check specs to see if a firewall is included

How to choose, for the beginner: http://tinyurl.com/2yxn6s

Software: protects each computer

Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall (free): http://tinyurl.com/2fggbw

Panda Antivirus+ Firewall 2007 ($49.95, up to 3 PCs) http://tinyurl.com/227r5h

Windows Live OneCare ($49.95/yr, up to 3 PCs): http:// tinyurl.com/yrnqmp

Hardware (routers): protects a network

Check specs to see if a firewall is included

Automatic Updates Sent by Microsoft to your computer for free Fixes Windows problems and vulnerabilities Sometimes causes problems as they fix Configure when you receive updates: Control Panel > Automatic Updates Microsoft Update – updates operating system and Microsoft products: http://tinyurl.com/253lhc

Sent by Microsoft to your computer for free

Fixes Windows problems and vulnerabilities

Sometimes causes problems as they fix

Configure when you receive updates: Control Panel > Automatic Updates

Microsoft Update – updates operating system and Microsoft products: http://tinyurl.com/253lhc

Antivirus Software Viruses & worms : “interfere with computer operation, record, corrupt, or delete data, or spread themselves to other computers and throughout the Internet.” Antivirus : Finds and inoculates, or quarantines, or disarms viruses & worms

Viruses & worms : “interfere with computer operation, record, corrupt, or delete data, or spread themselves to other computers and throughout the Internet.”

Antivirus : Finds and inoculates, or quarantines, or disarms viruses & worms

Free Online Virus Scanners Pros : Free, reliable, updated frequently Cons : Web-based, only active when you run it, can be slow if bandwith is low Options : Panda Activescan (requires Internet Explorer): http://www.pandasoftware.com/ Trend Micro™ HouseCall: http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/ McAfee FreeScan: http://tinyurl.com/lo2y Symantec Security Check: http://tinyurl.com/do09

Pros : Free, reliable, updated frequently

Cons : Web-based, only active when you run it, can be slow if bandwith is low

Options :

Panda Activescan (requires Internet Explorer): http://www.pandasoftware.com/

Trend Micro™ HouseCall: http://housecall65.trendmicro.com/

McAfee FreeScan: http://tinyurl.com/lo2y

Symantec Security Check: http://tinyurl.com/do09

Antivirus Software Pros : Runs in the background, scans email as it arrives, updated frequently Cons : Not free, updated definitions subscription cost Options ( includes 1 year of updates) : Norton AntiVirus ($39.95) http://tinyurl.com/29w4cy Panda AntiVirus (+spyware for 2 PCs ) ($29.95) http://tinyurl.com/yup3je Windows Live OneCare ($49.95/yr, up to 3 PCs): http:// tinyurl.com/yrnqmp

Pros : Runs in the background, scans email as it arrives, updated frequently

Cons : Not free, updated definitions subscription cost

Options ( includes 1 year of updates) :

Norton AntiVirus ($39.95) http://tinyurl.com/29w4cy

Panda AntiVirus (+spyware for 2 PCs ) ($29.95) http://tinyurl.com/yup3je

Windows Live OneCare ($49.95/yr, up to 3 PCs): http:// tinyurl.com/yrnqmp

Antispyware Spyware : collects data, sends it elsewhere Pop-ups appear without a browser (adware) Little programs install without telling you Site hijack: sends you to a different web site Antispyware : Keep the spies away Removes/disables spyware programs Self-help : Read installation instructions *very* carefully!

Spyware : collects data, sends it elsewhere

Pop-ups appear without a browser (adware)

Little programs install without telling you

Site hijack: sends you to a different web site

Antispyware :

Keep the spies away

Removes/disables spyware programs

Self-help : Read installation instructions *very* carefully!

AntiSpyware Software – Free Pros : Free, good basic features, easy to use Cons : Limited features Options : Windows Defender http://tinyurl.com/pmna8 Ad-Aware SE Personal http://tinyurl.com/fh7cs

Pros : Free, good basic features, easy to use

Cons : Limited features

Options :

Windows Defender http://tinyurl.com/pmna8

Ad-Aware SE Personal http://tinyurl.com/fh7cs

AntiSpyware – Not Free Pros : Customizable scans, automatic definition updates, runs in background Cons : Not free, definitions subscription cost Options : Ad-Aware SE Plus ($26.95 MSRP) http://tinyurl.com/2fbnct Windows Live OneCare ($49.95/yr, 1-3 PCs) http:// tinyurl.com/yrnqmp

Pros : Customizable scans, automatic definition updates, runs in background

Cons : Not free, definitions subscription cost

Options :

Ad-Aware SE Plus ($26.95 MSRP) http://tinyurl.com/2fbnct

Windows Live OneCare ($49.95/yr, 1-3 PCs) http:// tinyurl.com/yrnqmp

Continuing Education Maintain your system with Windows XP http://tinyurl.com/65gk4 Microsoft Security At Home http://tinyurl.com/2emr7k Lavasoft Spyware Education Center http://tinyurl.com/yon6br

Maintain your system with Windows XP http://tinyurl.com/65gk4

Microsoft Security At Home http://tinyurl.com/2emr7k

Lavasoft Spyware Education Center http://tinyurl.com/yon6br