Speeding Up a Slow Computer

    Bing Forbinger called asking for advice on speeding up his computer, which had become much slower over time. We offered several suggestions, but he called back an hour later and said that disabling his "MSCONFIG Startup Items" made his PC almost as fast as when it was new.

    "Startup Items" are programs that are told to start running in the background when you turn on your PC (so that, ostensibly, they will launch faster if you decide to use one). However, these programs should be OFF until you actually need them – if ever. WinXP users can access the list by clicking Start>Run and typing msconfig into the Run box. Then click the Startup tab to see the list. Vista/Win7 users will click Start and type msconfig into the Search box to do the above.

    The only program most folks want running in the background is their anti-virus. Disable everything else. You can always re-enable any items you do want running all the time. More info on speeding up your computer can be seen here: Why Is My Computer So Slow?

Downloading "Updates"

    A reader wrote that he'd received a message asking him to click OK to download updates to his Dell computer. He did so and downloaded a destructive virus. Although certain software companies, such as Microsoft and Adobe, do offer periodic updates to their programs, computer manufacturers do NOT.

    Microsoft sends updates to Windows users at least once a week and Adobe periodically asks users to download updates to Acrobat Reader (for reading PDF pages) and Adobe Flash (to read the animated "Flash" files seen on many web pages nowadays).

Receive Updates Automatically

    As for Microsoft updates, you should be receiving them automatically. If you don't get them automatically go to: www.update.microsoft.com. Or click on Start>All Programs>Windows Update.

    Internet villains are becoming more creative with their tricks to lure users into downloading malware, as well as conning people into typing in sensitive data to "update" various online accounts. If you receive something saying you need to "update" your PayPal or eBay or Amazon or bank account you can be sure it's a "phishing" scam designed to steal your identity.

Tricks to Be Aware Of

    Users of Facebook and similar sites are increasingly being hit with messages such as, "Is it really you on this video? I can't believe it! Click the link to play it." If you click the link you'll likely see a message saying, "You need an updated codec to play this video. Click to download the update." What will be downloaded, however, can wreak havoc on your PC.

Spam/Junk Folders

    On a brighter note, the various email services are spotting many of these scams and filtering them into users' Junk or Spam folders. However, these are not fool-proof systems and it's not uncommon to have legitimate emails sent to your Spam or Junk folder. It pays to double-check before deleting anything.

Hijacked Email Account

    Another reader wrote that her email program had been hijacked and that porno spam was being sent to everyone in her Address Book. She wisely changed account's password immediately and sent all her contacts an email of explanation. She said the problem appears to have been resolved, but canceling a hijacked email account altogether can be an even more secure solution.

    Having an email account hijacked is not new &ndash it's been around since the mid-90s. It almost always occurs because someone's password has been compromised. Once an evil-doer has your email password it's easy for him to copy the names/addresses of all your contacts. This is another reason we don't use our email programs' Address Books to list our contacts. Keeping them in a spreadsheet or in a text document, from which they can be easily copied and pasted, is much more secure.

© Donald Ray Edrington – All Rights Reserved

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Don Edrington - Computer Columnist for The Californian and San Diego's North County Times

Senior Computer Tutor
Don Edrington

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