How to keep clean your computer

The users count with different applications to combat spy programs and computer overload. Many people find out that after a while of browsing the Internet, the computer takes more time to boot up and that the software installed begin to work slower. This might be due to an accumulation of spy software or unsolicited spam in your computer.

The first remedy to this type of spy software is to be careful and have common sense. Whenever you download or install software, it is very convenient to know what type of program you are installing. Many can contain hidden tricks to show ads or monitor the user habits in the web.

These spy programs use your Internet connection to send the collected information somewhere else, using your bandwidth and your computer resources. They frequently use your contacts in your email account to send them more spam. They could even retrieve sensitive information, like bank accounts and passwords. Even if you try to uninstall them, they leave traces on temporal files or in the windows registry. This is why it is extremely important to install only the software you need and avoid installing stuff just to know what they do.

Sometimes, fake cleaners contain spy programs themselves. Because of this, it is important that you use known effective programs to perform this task.

Another important tip to keep your computer protected is to be sure to install the latest patches and updates of your operative system. On a day to day basis, new vulnerabilities are discovered and the software manufacturers always try to patch those holes with new updates.

You should also try to keep your hard drive partitioned in two or more logical drives and maintain your documents in a different drive from the operative system. This way if you need to reinstall the system, you won't have to move your information and documents (or even worse, loose them forever).

Some of the recommended applications to clean your computer are: CCleaner, EasyCleaner, RegSeeker, SpyBot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware.

Remember that having only an antivirus won't protect you completely, although most of the current antivirus offer a anti-spyware solution.