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Keep an Eye Out for Spyware
Get Back to Where You Were
Cool Tool of the Month
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Welcome
 
October fallWelcome to another edition of Keep Your PC Healthy. For many of us, the slower pace of summer is just a distant memory, except for our friends Down Under, who are just gearing up for those days!
 
This month we focus on the potentially crippling problem of spyware, as well as what to do when your PC has gotten to a state you wish it never entered. And of course, we have another Cool Tool of the Month winner. Make sure you keep those cool tool suggestions coming!
 
Thanks for reading.
Keep an Eye Out for Spyware
 

Spyware is software that monitors your system activity without your knowledge. It often installs as a third-party component bundled with a freeware or shareware application, or installs itself onto your computer when you click on a website containing spyware.

 

Once installed, spyware monitors websites you visit, records your habits, monitors your keystrokes, history, passwords, and other confidential and private information. It ends up sending that information to a main website. The website then delivers that information to advertisers or others who have access to the information.

 

Anti-spyware programs were created to remove these malicious files. Well known anti-spyware programs include Lavasoft's Ad-Aware SE and Spybot - Search & Destroy. These programs provide an effective way to remove and intercept Spyware programs.

 

There are many other anti-spyware programs which can be found at

http://www.download.com/Spyware-Removers/3150-8022_4-0.html?tag=dir

 

When searching for a good anti-spyware tool, beware of fake anti-spyware programs, often called rogue software. Malicious programmers can make fake anti-spyware programs which actually install more spyware and can make the problem even worse.

 

A list of known fake anti-spyware programs or rogue software can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spyware#Fake_anti-spyware_programs.

 
Beware of spyware! It can cause big problems, but with proper caution, you can avoid it and keep your PC safe.

Get Back to Where You Were

Have you ever made a change to your computer, such as installing a new game or program, that caused it to become unstable? Do you wish you could go back to the way the system was prior to installing the program? Well, this is possible with system restore.

 

System restore is a built-in utility for Windows XP and Windows Vista. It allows you to revert your system back to a previous recorded state, known as a restore point. It automatically tracks major changes to your computer and creates a "restore point" when these changes occur. These changes can include things such as a new program installation or an uninstall of a program or system update. This way, if your system becomes unstable, you can restore it back to a point where it was working properly.

 

System restore will only revert the system and program files on the machine, so all of your personal data such as your documents, music and pictures will not be deleted.

 

To revert your computer to an earlier state, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, select All Programs, select Accessories, System Tools, and then click System Restore.

 

2. On the Welcome screen, click Restore my computer to an earlier time, and then click Next.

 

3. On the Select a Restore Point page, select the date from the calendar that shows the point you'd like to restore to and then click Next. Dates with restore points are marked in bold.

 

4. On the Confirm Restore Point Selection page, verify that the correct restore point is chosen. Make sure to close any programs that are running, as system restore will need to reboot the machine.

 

5. Click Next if you are ready to proceed or click Back to change the restore point.

 

6. The computer will shut down automatically and reboot. On reboot, you'll see the Restoration Complete page, and then click OK.

After the system completes the restoration, make sure that the system is stable. If it is not, then you can use another restore point or undo the current restoration. To undo the current restoration, go back to System restore and choose the Undo my last restoration option.

 

* Note that any programs installed or removed after the restore point 

will need to be reinstalled or uninstalled after a successful restoration.

 

If system restore is enabled on your machine, then Windows will create restore points automatically, but you can also create restore points manually. To manually create a system restore point, follow the steps below:

1. Click Start, select All Programs, select Accessories, System Tools, and then click System Restore.

 

2. On the Welcome page, click Create a Restore Point.

 

3. On the Create a Restore Point page, enter a name for your restore point and then click Create.

The Restore Point Created page will confirm that the new restore point has been created. It may be a good idea to create a restore point prior to installing any new applications.

 

System restore doesn't replace a full system backup, but it provides a fast way to restore the system if it becomes unstable due to problems with operating system files or software corruptions. Since system restore doesn't protect the system if your hardware becomes unstable, a full system backup is essential.

 
System restore -- a relatively simple way to recover from a potential major problem!
 
Cool Tool of the Month T-Shirt Winner
 
This month's Cool Tool of the Month winner is Carl Jenkins. Check out his recommendation -- "Knockout" -- a companion product to Microsoft's Outlook.
 
Congratulations Carl!
 
newsletter t-shirtBecome the very next winner of this fine t-shirt (Click here to see it in detail) by sending us your nomination for Cool Tool of the Month.  Click the link above at top left to nominate your choice.
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Here's to your healthy PC,
Raxco Software, Inc.