Riverside Computers

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FAQ'S

Q:	My computer is running slow, what steps can I do to fix it?
	This issue can be caused by any of the below possibilities. Hard disk drive is short on available disk space. Several software programs have been installed/uninstalled leaving behind bad files and/or confusing the software. Data Corruption. Missing Windows updates / Outdated drivers. Computer is overheating. Corrupt OS. Bad Hardware Viruses or other Malware Below are steps for Microsoft Windows users that might help speed up the computer Verify there is at least 20% of free disk space available Run Scandisk and Defrag to ensure there are not errors and files are arranged in the best possible order Make sure your computer is free of viruses and other malware components Make sure you have the latest drivers for your computer, especially the latest video drivers If you've had your computer for more than a couple of years it's likely your computer is no longer meeting the minimum memory requirements for todaysw software. We suggest a minimum pg 1GB for XP based systems and at least 2GB for Vista or Windows 7.
Q:	How did I get infected when I have antiv-virus software?
	One of the most common questions we get when cleaning Malware is "how did my machine get infected?". There are a variety of reasons, but the most common ones are that you are not practicing Safe Internet, you are not running the proper security software, and that your computer's security settings are set too low. Below I have outlined a series of categories that outline how you can increase the security of your computer so that you will not be infected again in the future. Practice Safe Internet One of the main reasons people get infected in the first place is that they are not practicing Safe Internet. You practice Safe Internet when you educate yourself on how to properly use the Internet through the use of security tools and good practice. Knowing how you can get infected and what types of files and sites to avoid will be the most crucial step in keeping your computer malware free. The reality is that the majority of people who are infected with malware are ones who click on things they shouldn't be clicking on. Whether these things are files or sites it doesn't really matter. If something is out to get you, and you click on it, it most likely will. Below are a list of simple precautions to take to keep your computer clean and running securely: If you receive an attachment from someone you do not know, DO NOT OPEN IT! Simple as that. Opening attachments from people you do not know is a very common method for viruses or worms to infect your computer. If you receive an attachment and it ends with a .exe, .com, .bat, or .pif do not open the attachment unless you know for a fact that it is clean. For the casual computer user, you will almost never receive a valid attachment of this type. If you receive an attachment from someone you know, and it looks suspicious, then it probably is. The email could be from someone you know infected with a malware that is trying to infect everyone in their address book. If you are browsing the Internet and a popup appears saying that you are infected, ignore it!. These are, as far as I am concerned, scams that are being used to scare you into purchasing a piece of software. There are also programs that disguise themselves as Anti-Spyware or security products but are instead scams Another tactic to fool you on the web is when a site displays a popup that looks like a normal Windows message or alert. When you click on them, though, they instead bring you to another site that is trying to push a product on you. We suggest that you close these windows by clicking on the X instead of the OK button. Alternatively, you can check to see if it's a real alert by right-clicking on the window. If there is a menu that comes up saying Add to Favorites... you know it's a fake. Do not go to adult sites. I know this may bother some of you, but the fact is that a large amount of malware is pushed through these types of sites. I am not saying all adult sites do this, but a lot do. When using an Instant Messaging program be cautious about clicking on links people send to you. It is not uncommon for infections to send a message to everyone in the infected person's contact list that contains a link to an infection. Instead when you receive a message that contains a link, message back to the person asking if it is legit before you click on it. Stay away from Warez. Cheats and Crack sites! In addition to the obvious copyright issues, the downloads from these sites are typically overrun with infections. Be careful of what you download off of web sites and Peer-2-Peer networks. Some sites disguise malware as legitimate software to trick you into installing them and Peer-2-Peer networks are crawling with it.