FAQ

What exactly is a Computer Virus? A Virus is a computer program that spreads without your knowledge, much the same way a sick person's germs pass from human to human. They often cause system problems, can distribute private or personal information about you to the internet, and can cause data loss. The best protection against Computer Viruses is to have an Anti-Virus Program such as Symantec/Norton Antivirus and renew your subscription as needed.

What is a virus definition file? A virus definition file is a update to your antivirus program that makes the software "aware" of new viruses so that it can defend your system against attack. Normally antivirus software comes with a 1 year subscription whereas the antivirus software will automatically retrieve updates to the definition files during this time. Just prior to it "expiring" you should see a message asking you to renew your subscription service. You should do this when asked. Expired Antivirus cannot protect you against new viruses that have been released after the date of your last definition file.

What should I do if I suspect I have a computer virus? Check to see if your Antivirus software is up to date. If not, update it. Symantec/Norton antivirus will have a LIVEUPDATE button to click. Then perform a full manual system scan and follow any recommendations the antivirus software may give you. If you are uncertain or uncomfortable, it is safer to turn your computer off and call us.

What is Spware/Adware? Spyware or Adware is a generic term to describe a type of software that can cause many problems on your system. It is like a "parasite" latching on to your system and opening the door to "pop up advertisements" as well having the ability to actually "steal" information from your system for marketing or statistical purposes.

How do I know if I have Spyware on my computer? Use of scanning software such as Lavasoft's Ad-Aware or PepiMK Software's Spybot Search & Destroy are just a few of the "Anti-Spyware" software. (Links can be found to the right) They work similarly to Antivirus software and work to rid your system of these unwanted programs and the problems they can cause. We are already starting to see a convergence of Anti-Spyware/Anti-Virus software and soon they will probably be one product instead of two.

What is Defragging my hard drive? Defragging a hard drive is the process of rearranging the various bits of data on the hard drive in a more contiguous alignment so that it can be read more efficiently by the read/write heads of the drive.

How often should I Defrag my Hard Drive? We hear this often from customers. While there is no right or wrong answer, we recommend you follow this simple rule of thumb. Defrag your hard drive at least once every 6 months. Heavy users, every 2 months, or if you've just uninstalled and reinstalled several programs or deleted a significant amount of data or unused software from your system.

What does it mean to backup my data and how often should I do it? Backing up your data is nothing more than creating a duplicate of any important information in your computer. That information is going to be different for each of us, but usually means contact info, documents, spreadsheets, data bases, address books, or accounting data to name a few. How often it should be backed up depends on how important this information is. Accounting information should be backed up each time it is updated. Rolodex / Contact information should be saved weekly or after any large amount of inputting. This information could be simply copied to a floppy, Zip Disk, burnable CD, or better yet a Tape backup system.

What is a tape backup system and what are it's advantages over disks or CDs? A Tape backup system gives you several advantages when backing up your data. First of all it can be preprogrammed to perform a full backup of all your data as well as your programs and the actual Windows Operating system too. In the event of a catastrophe, the computer could be completely restored from this tape. Also it can be set to run without your intervention, so it can be automated, and therefore not rely on you to remember to perform this mundane task.

What IS spyware?

Spyware software is a ‘Parasite’ which is a shorthand term for “unsolicited commercial software” — that is, a program that gets installed on your computer which you never asked for, and which does something you probably don’t want it to, for someone else’s profit. Click here for a more detailed description.

FREE Spyware

Removal Tools

Here are some free tools to fight Spyware!

Spybot Search & Destroy detects and removes a multitude of adware files and modules from your computer.

Lavasoft AD-Aware scans your RAM, Registry, hard drives, and external storage devices for known data mining, advertising, and tracking components.