| Presumably you have the internet; otherwise you | | | | history and other offline files. These are all little records |
| wouldn't be reading this.The first thing you need to do | | | | of the sites you have visited, It means sites you |
| is protect your computer from online threat, due to | | | | frequent will load faster second time around. However |
| broadband, computers are now always online, which | | | | as these files take up hard disk memory you should |
| means they're constantly open to threat.Firstly ensure | | | | clean them out, again every month or so. You can this |
| your windows firewall is active; this can be done as | | | | by clicking the following,START > CONTROL PANEL |
| followsSTART > CONTROL PANEL > WINDOWS | | | | > INTERNET OPTIONSIn this folder the bottom box |
| FIREWALLSTART is your menu on the bottom left of | | | | has a CLEAR HISTORY button, clicking this removes |
| the windows operating system. When in the | | | | any website address that would have been saved in |
| WINDOWS FIREWALL folder just turn it on and click | | | | your browsers web address bar.The middle box |
| ok.A firewall is basically what it says it is, a wall with | | | | allows you to DELETE FILES and DELETE COOKIES, |
| which to block or impede potential virus and hack | | | | don't worry clicking these won't delete anything |
| threats.This provides adequate protection, in addition to | | | | important, it will just free up some memory that would |
| this you should consider installing some anti-virus | | | | be otherwise used by useless files.Something else |
| software. Some broadband providers supply you with | | | | which should be done, again about once a month is |
| this, others don't.The most common anti-virus software | | | | disk defragmentation.START > ALL PROGRAMS > |
| is Norton, although it isn't the only one. I recommend | | | | ACCESSORIES > SYSTEM TOOLS > DISK |
| visiting download.com, here you can download plenty | | | | DEFRAGMENTERIn simple terms this organizes files |
| of free trials from various software companies. | | | | so you can run programs on your computer |
| Experiment and find one that's simple and effective, | | | | quicker.Again, to keep your computer speed high make |
| read what others have said about the product.Some | | | | sure to remove any old programs and games that |
| of the software on is freeware, so if your lucky you | | | | may be using up memory.START > CONTROL |
| may come across an anti-virus program that costs | | | | PANEL > ADD OR REMOVE PROGRAMSHave a |
| nothing.Such programs take a while to configure and | | | | scan through the list and uninstall things you no longer |
| get used to but generally supply excellent | | | | use. Beware though, don't delete anything you're |
| protection.Your computer will still be at risk, what you | | | | unsure of, some programs in there could play an |
| now need to do is have some software that can | | | | important part if the functionality of your |
| destroy any problems that manage to get through | | | | computer.Finally, dust the vents on your computer |
| your defences.I recommend downloading "Spybot: | | | | regularly - blockages here reduce the fan |
| Search & Destroy", again another freebie that can be | | | | effectiveness which causes your computer to |
| downloaded from download.com, dependant on how | | | | overheat and become slow are even crash.Most new |
| heavily you use the internet you should use this | | | | computers become sluggish after a few months, |
| program to scan your computer at least every two | | | | running these checks every few weeks are so should |
| weeks.Download a "worm blaster" as well, although | | | | keep it running at optimal speed, and more importantly |
| worms are not extremely common they can have a | | | | reduce any infections that could case your computer |
| very negative effect on how your computer operates. | | | | to cease operating for good.Colm O'Dwyer is a |
| Again run such a program occasionally.The final thing | | | | 21-year old inventor/entrepreneur from Glasgow, UK. |
| with regards to the internet is cleaning your cookies, | | | | You can visit for more information. |