TABLE OF CONTENTS The care and feeding of your computer is an ongoing process, not a product or event. Some people believe that their computer must be secure because it came with antivirus software installed. What they fail to realize is that new vulnerabilities are discovered and exploits created daily.
Your antivirus software, operating system, and other applications are only as strong as their last update. If it has been a week since you last updated, your system is potentially vulnerable to any threat that has been created or discovered in the past seven days.
It is imperative for the security of your computer that you regularly update products such as your antivirus, personal firewall, and anti-spyware software.You should also apply patches and updates for your operating system and applications to make sure they are protected against known vulnerabilities.
Even in the absence of actual threats to the security of your computer system, a computer requires regular maintenance and upkeep. Just like your car needs to have the oil changed, the air filter replaced and the windshield washer fluid refilled periodically, the computer needs some basic cleaning and tuning to keep it running smoothly. Removing unnecessary files and defragmenting your hard drive are two tasks that can speed up your PC and extend its lifespan at the same time.
This chapter will cover the different tasks you...
