Any kind of IT related problem can really ruin your day. A slow computer can effectively make everyday tasks, such as, running Microsoft Office or surfing the net very frustrating. If you are experiencing a problem today then this post might just contain the answer you are looking for.

A Spot of PC Spring Cleaning

This may sound obvious but before you delve any deeper check how much media you have stored. Thousands of pics, music and videos can really slow down your system. However simply clicking delete is not enough because in most cases you are just removing a reference to file. To permanently delete files from your system it is best to follow this guide which takes you through how to use the Microsoft SDelete tool. One important thing to consider is games can really slow down you computer especially if it is a bit older. Make sure you uninstall any games you are no longer playing.

If you do find lots of media and unwanted files, but you don’t want to lose them forever you can buy an external hard drive or USB memory stick. Nowadays many people choose to store important files and media in the cloud. Cloud computing allows you to use storage which is accessible online. A free popular choice is Google docs it takes no time to register and best of all you can access your files anytime you like as long as you have an internet connection.

Should I Use A Registry Cleaner?

A lot of people use registry cleaners to speed up their computers. The Microsoft registry system stores all the information about the programs installed on your system. Overtime these entries build up and can slow down your computer. Some IT experts believe that these reg cleaners can and do go wrong and can effectively damage a system making it unusable. However, there is a safer way of removing registry entries. You can visit ehow.com which contains a helpful and short guide on how to manually remove entries. I particularly like the warning against free demo software because it highlights that they usually only notify you of problems or errors and do not remove them.

Get A Good Antivirus Software

Millions of people all over the world have installed good antivirus software to protect their computers against malicious programs. Spyware and other malicious software track what you do so they can serve ads or even steal your information and crash your computer. Do your research and buy the best you can afford so that you avoid problems later. McAfee, Norton and Kaspersky are amongst the most well respected brands on the market and have been around for quite a while. So take a look at what they have to offer. We have quite a few reviews you can check out.

Lastly but certainly not least, Defragmentation. Your computer stores files in lots of different locations. By defragmenting you reduce the time it takes to read the files and startup times. It’s very easy to do, go to My Computer, right click on the disk then click properties. Next go to the tools tab and defragment.

One of the largest providers of Windows security software is warning companies to be on their guard during the 2010 football World Cup for attacks from the malware community. And to help, they have produced their top tips for world cup computer security.

The Sunbelt Software top tips for world cup computer security are aimed at UK bosses who fear that their employees will take every opportunity, whether with permission, or not, to watch matches – many of which are taking place during office hours – and follow not only England, but various other teams.

But warn Sunbelt Software, the tournament and the interest it will generate not only amongst supporters and the wider community, means that hackers are on the prowl, hence the need for the top tips for world cup computer security.

Malware writers will see employees trying to get their football fix, no matter how, as a great opportunity to launch attacks. And one of the biggest risks, say Sunbelt Software – the authors behind the top tips for world cup computer security – is fans desperately searching for footage on any site to see how their team is progressing. Many of the sites offering such footage will, say Sunbelt Software, be hotbeds of potential computer attacks, containing viruses, platforms for phishing attacks, banner advertising and fake video streaming codec downloads.

So, when it comes to safe 2010 football world cup enjoyment, what should bosses and employees be on their guard against; what are the top tips for world cup computer security.

Top of the pile of the top tips for world cup computer security are infected files, many offered as email attachments, or downloads, that promises such things as special World Cup pictures, news, results, free tickets, or match lists. It is best to avoid these.

Second up in the pile of top tips for world cup computer security is search engine optimization poisoning, which sees the hackers endeavouring to get their malicious sites to the first pages of the listings. This is why it’s essential that new urls are carefully studied before using them and that only sites that a user trusts, are used for such things as news updates and football features.

And such things as fake antispyware programmes will be out in force, tempting users to sign-up to bogus claims that a computer is infected and that a sum of around £50 will put things back to rights again.

Next up in the top tips for world cup computer security is a warning against social networking scams. Sunbelt Software say that they expect malicious links on Twitter, fake applications on Facebook and other tricks on some of the popular 2.0 websites.

Another of the top tips for world cup computer security is the area of website defacements. This concerns websites that are popular at the time of a certain event, or tournament, and are targeted by the hackers. Sometimes it might just involve the simple defacement of a website, but it could involve a totally compromised website which is turned into a delivery mechanism for illegal content.

David Parkin, Sales Director EMEA, Sunbelt Software, said:
“All it takes is one employee to disregard this advice and the entire organisation could be put at risk. It is our hope that business leaders will distribute these tips throughout their organisation and print out further copies and post them in communal areas. By following this simple four-point checklist we can all enjoy this year’s World Cup safely via the Internet.”

Guest Article by Neil Camp

If you are looking for antivirus PC software the best place to get an honest review is online. The Internet is the medium of the world, where people can come together in one place to applaud or berate a certain piece of software so we can all make informed decisions. 

Computer protection is one of the most important things when we use laptops, PCs, PDAs or any other device that connects us with the Internet. Whether for business or pleasure it is good to know your computer is protected from the abuse of hackers and viruses.  

Antivirus reviews can come from a number of sources and it is best to check them all out before purchasing so you know you have the correct software to suit your needs.

You can get antivirus reviews in the following places: 

• Online forums
• Specialist magazines
• Review sites
• Blogs 

When checking out antivirus reviews, especially on the Internet, you want to check the authenticity of the author. A biased review is not going to help you.  Make sure the website you are reading has lots of information on the full range of antivirus PC software.  

A good review will highlight the features and benefits of the antivirus software with a description of what the product does. If you are not too good with computers or you are slightly afraid of technology ensure you read antivirus reviews you can understand. Simple explanations without complicated terms will still get the same point across. 

With so much information and so many options available Antivirus BUYability aims to make the choice easier for you by examining the whole market. Read through our antivirus reviews to get a better understanding of which computer protection will be the best one for your needs.

Guest Article by Louise Goldstein

Symantec has just announced the worldwide release of Norton Ghost 15.

Symantec, which develop and produce the renowned Norton security suite, claim that the Norton Ghost 15 is one of the industry’s most advanced PC backup and recovery solutions. It is also compatible with Windows 7 and offers 25G and 50G Blu-ray Disc support. What’s more, this latest version introduces a new cold imaging feature that images computers without installing the product. Furthermore, Norton Ghost uses Symantec’s ThreatCon indicator to automatically back up PCs in the event of a severe security threat.

Norton Ghost 15 is pitched as a professional-grade backup solution for both home users and small businesses. Amongst it’s many attributes, lost, or damaged files can be recovered and restored in the event of a system failure, even if the computer’s operating system does not start. Additionally, it provides a backup of an entire system, or specific files, and folders, whilst saving recovery points to offsite locations using FTP.

Dave Cole, senior director of consumer products, Symantec, said:
“Norton Ghost has been the essential imaging and recovery product since 1996. Consumers PCs have never been more central to people’s lives, or more at risk due to cybercrime and critical failures. Ghost 15 not only is a powerful disaster recovery tool, but also it adds important features such as Windows 7 compatibility and Blu-ray Disc support to keep current with the way people are using their computers today.”

Symantec highlights the fact that their Norton Ghost 15 is also supported by Windows 7 Bitlocker. This provides enhanced data protection through drive encryption and integrity checking, keeping stored data safe and protected. They also point out that it works with both 25G and 50G Blu-ray Discs and most storage drives. This includes external hard drives, networked drives and recordable, and rewritable, CDs and DVDs. And the hot backups feature allows users to back up their computers without having to shut it down first.

The cold imaging technology employed by Norton Ghost 15 effectively backs up files without installing the product which, says Symantec, saves time and money. A handy feature is that after purchasing a new computer, users can image the PC immediately before any software is loaded which means that factory settings remain intact. It also allows easy back up of a system by simply booting to the recovery environment (which is a light version of the Windows operating system) from the Norton Ghost CD, and then initiating a backup.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

BitDefender, the creator’s of one of the industry’s fastest and most effective lines of internationally certified security software, has released some top tips for festive shoppers to take whilst online shopping.

Says BitDefender’s senior Antispam researcher Catalin Cosoi
“Taking advantage of the many benefits of online shopping like competitive pricing, great selection, or even freebies like zero shipping fees and free gift wrapping, doesn’t have to cost consumers more than they’ve bargained for.

“By being aware of a few key issues, consumers can shop safely with the knowledge they need to protect their personal information and their PC.”

First top tip is know where you’re shopping from and read the small print. BitDefender are keen to remind people that not every website is legimate, with some cybercriminals either creating virtual copies of well known branded sites, or creating their own very convincing merchant sites. In short, only buy from those who are genuine high-street, or online retails.

Second top tip is beware of those online merchants who want more than your name and email address in order to cash in a coupon. Remember that a legitimate site will not ask for more than is necessary to redeem the coupon. But many illegal and bogus sites target online shoppers with online promotions and to entice a consumer to enter personal information in order to receive coupons or other merchandise. This is then used elsewhere, mainly to build clone identities.

Third, and anyone who ignores this point do so at their peril, never use a PC to shop unless it has an up-to-date and properly working security suite on board. Surf, or email, without such a security suite and it’s only a matter of time before you become infected.

Fourth, stick to the sites you know and trust, or have used successfully before. If unsure about a site, have a look in the chat rooms and forums, and see if there are any rumours, or gossip.

Fifth – remember the old adage that there is no such thing as a free lunch. You must be very wary of special offers, or unbelievable deals. They can often end with your computer being infected.

Sixth tip; use credit cards where possible, as they offer more protection than debit cards, and even better, see if you can pay cash on delivery.

Finally, look out for the https connection to a website. It’s not a guarantee of safety, but most of the sites thus connected are safe.

Guest Article by Neil Camp