ARA) - What you don't know can hurt you - big time - when it comes to what's hiding in your PC. From "naturally" occurring registry errors to more insidious threats like spyware, hidden problems can slow your computer performance to a crawl or even cause it to crash.
A little proactive maintenance, however, can go a long way towards preventing problems. Keeping your PC "clean" and running at its best is as simple as establishing a routine maintenance schedule and using the right kinds of software to address the most common problems. The good news is, many of these maintenance tasks can be automated, thanks to software developers who understand how busy the average PC user is - and how baffling trouble-shooting can be.
Here are three key "cleaning" tasks that you should perform on a regular basis (at least once a week):
Run a registry cleaner
If your computer is slower now than when you first bought it, the problem may be registry errors. Installing and removing software, playing online games, application crashes and upgrades of software problems can all create "natural" errors in your PC's registry. They accumulate over time and the more errors you have, the higher the likelihood that you'll experience trouble.
To protect your system, install a one-click tool called Advanced Registry Optimizer 2010 (ARO 2010). The software ferrets out and corrects registry errors. Manufacturer Sammsoft offers free trials of ARO 2010 so people can check their systems for errors. Go to www.Sammsoft.com to download your free trial.
Once the download is complete, just click "run" to install ARO 2010. The program will scan and diagnose your PC's registry, tell you how many errors it found and then fix the first 100 errors for free. If you like the trial version, you can upgrade to the full unlimited commercial system for just $29.95. Industry watcher Softarea51 recently gave the software 5 stars, calling it "a remarkable product, best of breed in its class, rising above its competitors by its innovative approach."
Out spyware
Did you know that 61 percent of PCs have spyware on them? And of those infected, 92 percent of users didn't know spyware was present on their computers, according to a poll by AOL and the National Cyber-Security Alliance.
Spyware - software that gets installed on your computer without your knowledge or consent - is considered a serious security threat. Not only can spyware collect information about your Internet usage, it can install additional software, hijack your browser, change your computer settings and slow down your computer performance.
Scan for spyware daily if you are on the Internet often and download frequently. Many companies offer completely free anti-spyware software for download.
Be vigilant to viruses
With so many other computer threats cropping up, it may be easy to overlook virus protection. But viruses continue to be a major threat to computer security, costing consumers and companies billions of dollars worldwide each year to prevent virus transmission and clean up after infection.
The best defense is a good offense when it comes to computer viruses. Subscribe to a virus protection software that provides constant updates since new viruses emerge and old ones evolve into new forms every day. Scan for new viruses at least once a week - more frequently if you are a heavy Internet user or receive large volumes of unsolicited e-mail.
Don't wait until it's too late ... go to www.Sammsoft.com to download your free trial. Once the download is complete, just click "run" to install ARO 2010. The program will scan and diagnose your PC's registry, tell you how many errors it found and then fix the first 100 errors for free. If you like the trial version, you can upgrade to the full unlimited commercial system for just $29.95.
