How to clean your Computer Software
It’s time to attend to the programs that create and store your important information. Here’s how to keep your computer’s “mind” as clean as its “body” to possibly extend its longer lifespan.
Back up your hard drives
Backing up your data — especially important data — is a must. A laptop or tablet can be replaced, but the information inside it may be irreplaceable.
In general, there are two options for backing up data: You can make a copy in a physical location, such as on an external hard drive or thumb drive, or you can make a copy that is stored on the “cloud,” or online, in a secure location.
Whichever you choose, commit to backing up your computer at least once a week or more often if you’re working on a project or want to preserve recently stored images.
Get antivirus software to protect from malware
Antivirus software helps prevent viruses and malware from infiltrating your device and messing with your data or stealing information which could lead to identity theft. Paid and free versions of antivirus software are available, and most programs can be set to work automatically in the background.
Update your software and programs
Make sure to update your software, especially high-use programs such as Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader, Chrome, and Windows. Outdated software can be vulnerable to malware, because most updates are created to keep software safe from threats. Downloading and installing the latest versions of your programs might not only protect your PC, but can keep it working quickly.
Declutter your software programs
While you do updates, check to make sure you’re using the programs on your system, and consider deleting any programs and files you no longer use. Decluttering helps ensure that your computer doesn’t get bogged down with unnecessary data. It also limits the number of programs malware might “hijack” to gain access to the system.
Clean your Windows registry
If you’re using Windows, there’s another step you may want to consider: cleaning your registry. Keep in mind that this may not make your device operate more efficiently. Your PC boot may work faster or maybe not.
Your Windows registry is a huge repository that holds details on everything you do on your PC. Making sure it’s clean is worth considering. But proceed with caution. If you make an error while cleaning your registry, you’ll need to reinstall your operating system. Be sure to back up your registry to be safe.