Guide Dog Computers

Someone mentioned lately that there is just “too much” to deal with, for many computer users these days. New software, new hardware, updates left, right & center (especially Adobe Flash)….and what the heck do we really need???

 My answer – my personal thoughts on the matter, are that you need only what you require to do specifically what you use your computer for. If you are running Windows XP or Windows Vista, and are happy with that – stick with it. Although Microsoft will be ending support for these operating systems, most home users will be able to keep their systems going for quite some time with the help of their friendly computer technicians.

 If you have a version of an Office program that enables you to fulfill your tasks comfortably….stick with it. If you are not having issues with viruses, if everything is working smoothly for you – leave it and simply do the regular updates.

 As the old saying goes…if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. There are floods of constant updates, upgrades, and unlimited ways of spending more money on your system. Is it right for you? You are the only one who can answer that question. If your system is currently doing everything you need it to do, unless you have an urge to explore new and wondrous ways to accomplish your necessary tasks…..don’t bother.

 Technology is evolving and ever-changing. Some things are good, many are unnecessary…..and if your needs are already being met, there is no good reason to upset your world and comfort level with the “latest & greatest”, just because the critics deem it better than whatever you are using. I base any changes of my own on need (I have to upgrade because of this new task) or excitement (I can’t wait to try that new program out, it looks terrific!) If you don’t fall in either category, change does not need to be always demanding your attention.

 Whatever works the best for you, whatever you are most comfortable using – THAT is the best solution for your own computing needs. If you are uncertain about what you are using, and would like some tips/thoughts/advice, please feel free to contact me – I will be happy to provide whatever feedback I can to make your experience as uncomplicated and straight-forward as I can.

Anyone who read online news today likely saw much about the obnoxious & offensive content that managed to make it’s way onto Facebook pages all over the world. As CNN reports:

 ”It’s not hacking. What happens is anyone on your friends list that comments on one of those pictures with their complaints and tirades ends up having that picture show up on all of their friends’ timelines. That’s how it’s spreading. Don’t complain about the picture. Just delete it. ” To read more:

 http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/15/tech/social-media/facebook-porn-spam/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

 http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/11/15/overheard-on-cnn-com-dodging-explicit-content-in-your-facebook-feed/?iref=obnetwork

 Although you cannot prevent the production of these issues, you can take steps to help ensure that you don’t unwittingly contribute to the spread. Be careful about clicking links on your Facebook page – especially if there are typos, a bad mix of upper & lower case characters, or anything that sounds a bit odd for your Aunt Flora to be posting. Promising amusing videos captured by Google Earth, suggestive tag lines ….or simply unlikely content, are all warning signs of possible trouble. You Tube is popular on Facebook, and generally are safe links to follow, but if you see an unknown site posted, or one of the other aforementioned warning signs, I would recommend checking with your Friends before clicking on anything.

 If a Facebook’ friend’ has apparently posted something odd or offensive, please send them a private message advising that you are concerned they may have been ‘hacked’, or otherwise inadvertently linked to a bad site. Above all, I hope you will refuse to be scared away by these situations – there are too many good things to miss due to the ignorant scare tactics of a warped few.

First, remove all unnecessary programs. Most new computers arrive with plenty of extra software that most people never use. Go to Control Panel, click Add/Remove Programs, and review the list of the programs showing up in there. Un-install things you aren’t using, or don’t want. Those free trials of Office or Anti-virus? It’s going to become a pain when it is no longer “free” – so unless you fully intend to purchase and use this particular program, take it out.

Using a registry cleaner regularly speeds up performance. CCleaner is a good, free program, available from CNET (my favorite download location, filled with freebies!) So does the Disk Cleanup function built into Windows, which deletes temporary files and Internet browsing histories that may bog down your hard drive. Defragmenting improves overall system performance – and is a great idea after cleaning all unwanted files/programs off your machine.

Hidden processes and startup programs can steal resources and make your computer run slower, as will malware. You can bring up Windows utility MSCONFIG from the Run box, to control which programs load at startup. You can access most processes when you actually need them, so there is no point in having them running from the time your computer boots up, slowing down the process.

Many background processes (such as adobe reader, flash player, java updates) can be unchecked from the Startup tab – but will still function properly when you need them. If you see anything with odd symbols while you are in there – VERY good idea to uncheck those – they are likely malware. If you have any doubts about the processes that show up, simply “Google” the name.

Most off the shelf computers come with the bare minimum of RAM. Adding another gigabyte or two will help speed up most systems. If your applications are resource -intensive, or if videos display jerkily, add more RAM to speed things up. The Aero theme of Windows 7 looks cool but is a real resource-hog. Right-click on your desktop and select the “Personalize” option from the context menu. Then set a new theme that does not use Aero for an additional bit of speed.

Make sure your security updates – Microsoft, Anti-virus, Malwarebytes, etc are all kept up-dated, your friendly neighborhood virus will be! Your computer should perform much better with routine maintenance.

I try to touch on a variety of topics in here, although this one is always a valid one to work with. Many people ask about different anti-virus software, and I always have to give the same answer – I don’t believe that there is any ONE ‘cure’ to the many threats you expose yourself to when you use the internetemail.

There are ways to protect yourself better through your own habits – stay away from high risk sites, such as music download and those sites you wouldn’t want your grandchildren to see. There are ways to protect yourself by learning the different scams people use to try and trick you (Google ‘phishing’, ‘social engineering’) and when you get emails advising you to send this message to everyone in your address book – ALWAYS try using what you see in the subject line to search on www.snopes.com before you send it on to anyone else. Many viruses spread through accessing address books without the knowledge of the person who supposedly send the original messages.

I personally (this viewpoint may be my own…) believe that no individual anti-virus can keep all threats at bay – so I believe in doubling up. I don’t mean installing three different anti-virus programs, as well as multiple malware scanners, firewalls, defender programs, and so on. If you install more than one anti-virus program on the same computer, they may even interfere with each other to the point that it slows your computer down more than a virus would.

I recommend one anti-virus program, along with a strong malware scanning program. There are many decent free or paid for anti-virus softwares available – drop me a line on my Facebook page if you would like specific recommendations. The one malware scanner that I will recommend without any prompting is Malwarebytes. Update this program at least monthly, and run it regularly – if you see no results in a Quick Scan, and I think you will be doing fairly well.

Any questions? Please feel free to ask on the Guidedog Facebook Page

Many people have turned to external hard drives for storing backups, or just to clear files from their PC to open up more room on that hard drive. External drives are handy, and have become very common for the average computer user – but I have been seeing misconceptions in action, when people buy the drives thinking that it is an extension of the PC itself.

The external hard drive is a great place to store things, but it is not a place to install all your bulky games or programs. Programs require an operating system (Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7….or a Mac system) to interact with them. External drives do not have operating systems installed on them, so they will not be able to work with the program.

If you think of the external drive as an attachment to your PC – like a camper on a pickup truck, it is easier to understand why this cannot work. You can drive your truck on a holiday, and put on a camper to store your tired bodies overnight – but you cannot drive your camper to your destination as it does not have an engine.

Still, they are incredibly handy for those who like plenty of photos, music or videos and find the PC hard drive filling up to the point that it slows the computer down. If you are considering the purchase of an external drive, it is good to verify that you can use it for the purpose you planned. Hope this helps!

Many people never think of maintenance for their computers – they repair when necessary, and that’s it. While this works for some, it may save you lost time, money and even save your digital information when you plan a maintenance rather than fix-it plan for your computer. Just the basics can help your computer stay trouble free longer – keep Malwarebytes updated and run regular (weekly, monthly – whatever works for you) scans on your machine to keep it malware-free. Clean your cache & cookies, clear your unwanted emails out, remove any unwanted programs, and periodically check to see if your disk needs defragmenting. If you need help with any of these procedures, feel free to ask on our Facebook page under Discussions!