Set up automatic Updates

After you have taught Windows to take care of backup independently, it is time for the next step. The system should now learn to examine itself, seal loopholes, and find outdated programs. If you set this up perfectly, you can turn Windows into an all-knowing doctor who identifies sources of danger immediately and gets rid of them without any pause.

Update the system: The most popular target for viruses, worms and Trojans is Windows itself. It might sound like an extremely basic step, but a large number of people turn updates off to mask apirated copies of Windows, and risk  their computers’ security in the process. Even if a user  can’t see any sign of a malware infection, their PC might have become part of the hundreds of zombie  networks that are active and fl ourishing around  the world. Such PCs are slower and less stable
because of additional background processes that perform  the botnets’ dirty work, but more importantly,  they also contribute to the spread of such malwareto millions of other users around the world, and  send out thousands of spam messages every day. To make sure your computer does not catch an infection and turn into a zombie, you should always be using a non-pirated copy of the OS, and activate the automatic system updates feature. Only this way can you be sure that your computer is as up to date as possible with patches for security loopholes. You can find the required settings at
‘Start |Control Panel | Security Center |Activate Automatic Updates’.

Keep programs updated: Windows should regularly check all software, and if required, tighten the screws so that malware does not find any gaps. To help the system cope with this task, equip it with the monitoring tool UpdateStar. You can download it from www.updatestar.com/en/download. After installation, UpdateStar checks what software is already on the computer and compares the version numbers with an online database. When doing this, if it finds an old program on the PC, a message immediately appears along with a link to download the updated versions of the programs in question. Click ‘Settings’ and make sure there is a tick in front of the ‘Activate automatic update search’ option. Select a time for the search to be performed. In the ‘Other’ tab, check whether the program is set to be active at each Windows start.
To download a newer version of any of the programs it identifies, click the link and then click ‘Download’. UpdateStar then automatically links to the m anufacturer’s website.

Block system changes: Even if a PC is set up perfectly, many users want to test new software and wind up installing and uninstalling dozens of programs which leave behind overheads and unnecessary files. In addition to slowing down a computer, such software can also hide spyware and viruses. One way to try new tools without danger is a virtual machine. However, this requires a computer with a lot of system resources, and is not suitable for very heavy applications such as 3D modeling or multimedia tools. So, set Windows up such that it can completely roll back system changes and remove all traces of temporarily installed software with just a simple reboot with the tool SteadyState (www.microsoft. com). Although it adds a few seconds to the system startup time, it keeps the Keep your software in good shape: UpdateStar scans your system and tells you exactly which programs are out of date. It can even point you to each vendor's website so you can download the updates.

IDENTIFY HARD DISK PROBLEMS: Usually, users identify hardware complaints far too late, almost when the hard disk has given up or the CPU is burnt out. By that time, no tool can help save your PC. Luckily, identifying problems at the right time and helping the PC stay healthy is child’s play. To find hard disk problems, use the tool HDDlife. This program monitors all Windows partitions, analyses read errors as they crop up, and assesses the reliability and the performance of your drives. Additionally, HDDlife monitors the temperature of the HDD so you can combat death caused by overheating with adequate time in hand. Since the program also displays how many hours the hard disk has been in operation, it is easy to track how long it will continue working on the basis of the data from the manufacturer. Tip: For Vista, the tool offers a sidebar gadget with which you can constantly keep an eye on space utilization. You can find more information at www.hddlife.com.

CHECK YOUR CPU: An occasional check of the CPU is an essential part of system monitoring. This is because temperature and processor utilization values shooting through the roof are the first warning signs of a defective fan or programs taxing the system too much. With the tool CoreTemp, this is not a problem. The program runs without needing any installation, and immediately displays all the information you need. Observe, for example, the heat generated. If the CPU is continuously staying warmer than 60 degrees Celsius, you must check the fans. A compete list of compatible chipsets and a few add-ons can be found at www.alcpu.com/coretemp.

MONITORING ON THE DESKTOP: If you don’t want to run several monitoring tools at the same time, the mini application BgInfo, which is actually a part of the Microsoft Sysinternals Suite, is exactly the one you need. Based on predefined commands, you can directly see system information on the desktop, such as the version number of the most recent Service Pack that installed, the name of the host, the hard disk partitions, the network connections, and the amount of free RAM. You can find the package and more info at www.microsoft.com. PREVENTION PC fresh and safe. It works in a similar fashion to system recovery utilities, but is considerably quicker and more fl exible. It lets you choose whether to roll back to a previous state if you decide not to keep some program you’re trying out. It all happens in a few steps. After installing SteadyState, click ‘Start All Programs Windows SteadyState’. The settings are in the menu under ‘Global Computer Settings’. You also have several options with which to insulate your system. If you want to delete all changes each time your computer reboots, click ‘Protect the hard disk’ and activate the entry ‘Remove all Changes at Restart’. Alternatively, select ‘Retain Changes temporarily’ to get rid of changes at a time convenient to you. Note: SteadyState protects your system against modifications, but this applies to ANYTHING that changes when you use it. All files created, such as your backups, personal documents, and even updates to other software will be reset to the same state each time you reboot. So use an external storage medium or another partition for things that you want to preserve after rolling back. Alternatively, deactivate the program as and when you need to, so that changes and new files are not detected.