Top 5 Programs to Keep your Computer Running Fast and Safe
Pretty much everyone has a computer now-a-days, and after spending hundreds of dollars on a machine, you want to maximize its life. Everyday usage of your computer leaves it with temporary/junk files, a fragmented hard drive, possible virus/malware expsoure, and more.
This list contains my top 5 programs for keeping your computer clean, fast, and safe.
1. CCleaner
CCleaner is great utility. It is used to remove temporary and junk files from your computer, and you will be very surprised how much space it may clear up. Many first time runs will clean 1 gig or more!
CCleaner can be downloaded from http://www.piriform.com/ccleaner
Once downloaded, install the program (if it asks to install the Ask/Yahoo toolbar, make sure you decline). Run CCleaner by double clicking its icon on your desktop. There are 2 tabs in the Cleaner section, "Windows" and "Applications". Make sure you go through the list and check/uncheck any items you wish to be cleaned or left alone. DO NOT CHECK ANY OF THE ITEMS IN THE "ADVANCED" SECTION UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.
Be sure all browsers are closed and then click "Analyze". It will give you the amount of space it can clear with details below. If you are satisfied, click "Run Cleaner."
That's it! Just be sure to run it every week or so, and you will keep your computer free of pesky temporary files.
2. Auslogics Disk Defrag
Daily usage of your computer causes files to become fragmented. What this means is that pieces of programs get spread out on your hard drive, and as a result your hard drive must work harder to find each piece of the program you are attempting to run. This slows down your computer and causes unnecessary wear on your hard drive.
To combat this, there is Auslogics Disk Defrag. This is the best defragmenter I have used, it is extremely fast, and very efficient.
Download and install the program. Once installed, run Auslogics Disk Defrag by double clicking its icon on the desktop. You will be greeted with the main defrag page. If you would only like to check the fragmentation status of your hard drive(s), click the little arrow next to "defrag" and choose "analyze." It will quickly analyze your disks and tell you what percent fragmented they are (the higher, the worse, you want 0% fragmentation).
If it is 10% or more fragmented, I'd recommend doing a defrag, however, if you have NEVER defragged before, defragment as long as it is over 0% fragmented.
I usually use the "Defrag and Optimize" option. It takes slightly longer, but it is worth it. It rearranges the files on your disk so that they are more organized, and it also defrags your disk.
So just click whichever option you prefer (defrag or defrag and optimize) and let the program do its job.
I'd recommend defragging every 2 weeks to every month.
3. Avast! Anti-Virus
Most of us have had a pesky virus or two before, either from visiting that not-so appropriate site, or just from general internet surfing. The problem with viruses is that they present a huge threat to your privacy. Some can log keystrokes (known as "keyloggers") which can put your identity at risk if you do any shopping/banking online. Some just sit silently on your computer, downloading more dangerous viruses without you even knowing.
The biggest way to prevent these viruses is to not browse risky sites, these sites include porn sites, torrent sites, sketchy game sites, etc. If you feel insecure on a site, trust your instinct!
But another huge way to prevent viruses, is to have an anti-virus program with real time protection. That's where Avast! comes in. Avast is a great program, it's real time protection shields work great, and it can detect more threats than many of the paid programs. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, we'll be using the FREE version.
Avast can be downloaded from here. Choose the best one for your situation (this article assumes you will be using the free version, as it has more than enough protection for the average home user).
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NO OTHER ANTIVIRUS PROGRAM INSTALLED BEFORE INSTALLING AVAST. Having multiple anti-virus programs active actually causes more issues and REDUCES security.
Download and install Avast. It will require a system restart if I remember correctly. Once you restart, congratulations, you are done! Your system will automatically be protected from threats. It would be wise to go ahead and update the program. Update can be found under the "Maintenance" tab of the interface. Also, go ahead and run a full system scan. It wouldn't be a bad idea to go ahead and schedule Avast! to scan your computer every few days or every week. This can be done under the "Scan Computer" tab. Just click the "settings" option under the full scan, and go to the "Schedule" tab.
4. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Avast is used to block/remove viruses. But what about all of the other malware out there? That is exactly what Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (MBAM for short) is for! MBAM removes a TON of malware, it has the highest detection of any anti-malware program I have ever used.
Download MBAM from here. There is a free and paid version. The paid version adds a real time blocker, but for just removal, the free version does a great job.
Just download and install MBAM and double click its icon to run it. It should prompt you for an update, but if it doesnt then just go to the "update" tab of the program and check for updates.
A quick scan is all you need to run in MBAM, full scans do not usually reveal anything that a quick scan does not. Just go ahead and do a quick scan, and if it finds any threats, be sure to check them all before clicking "remove selected" followed by a restart of your computer.
Run MBAM about once and week and help protect your computer's security.
5. Revo Uninstaller
If you install and uninstall a lot of programs, chances are that you have a ton of leftover files/folders/registry items from your uninstalled programs.
Revo Uninstaller thoroughly uninstalls any program, it scans your hard drive and registry for any remnants of the program that you just uninstalled. It does it quickly and safely.
Download Revo from here. Make sure to download the free version.
After Revo is installed and opened, you will see a list of all installed programs. All you have to do is select the program you wish to uninstall, and click "Uninstall" at the top. I normally select the moderate uninstall mode, as it usually gets all the leftover files. Just click next, it will start the program's uninstaller. Once that is complete it will scan for leftover files/folders. Put a check mark next to each one you want to remove and click "remove selected". Do that on the next screen as well, which shows leftover registry entries.
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From what I've read Microsoft Security Essentials is a really awesome anti-virus tool. Plus, it is free. I use AVG paid, but I think when it runs out I'm going to use Security Essentials.
Microsfot Security Essentials is great for novices. It really does have great detection, but it has a lack of advanced options, which is why I recommend Avast instead. Avast can be simple, or you can delve into its advanced features and make it a powerful, customized solution.