Courses Home

Agenda

  Day One

   Hardware Vs. Software
   Static Electricity
   Heat
   Useful Tools
   Hardware

DayTwo – notes

    Software

   Backing up your Data
    External Backup Drives
    RAID Arrays
    Backup Software
    Backup Types

Day Three – notes

Day Four – notes

   Organize your Software

   Malicious Software

Related Resources

Reference Pages

Day Four Notes

Organize Your Computer

  • Disk Cleanup
    • Downloaded Program Files
    • Temporary Internet Files
    • Off-line Web Pages
    • Microsoft Error Reporting Temporary Files
    • Office Setup Files
    • Recycle Bin

  • Drive Properties - Tools Tab
    • Error-Checking
    • Defragmentation
    • Backup

Internet Files

  • Windows Tools Only Clean Internet Explorer
  • Cookies
  • Cache
  • History

Removing Un-Needed Software

  • Start Menu Entries
    • Some Programs have an un-installer in their Start Menu folder.
  • Add / Remove Programs
    • Move properly installed programs are listed here.
    • If in doubt about a program, look it up on the Internet.

Scheduled Tasks

  • There are some tasks taht should be run regularly.
    • Defrag
    • Anti-Virus Scan / Update
    • Drive Backup
  • Some Programs use their own schedulers.

Malicious Software

  • Viruses
    • Worms
    • Trojans
    • Bot-Nets
  • Spyware / Adware

Security Software

  • Security Suites
    • These are intended to protect you from all forms of Malware.
    • Sometimes, they install so deep, they are hard to get rid of.
    • Many are Subscription-based, and therefore need to be renewed.
    • Often included free with new computers, needing renewal after initial period.
  • Anti-virus
    • Not as 'Heavy' for the computer to run
    • Must not be combined, otherwise they may fight each other
    • Uses a library of virus 'fingerprints' to identify viruses
  • Anti-Spyware / Adware
    • Concentrates on Spy related programs
    • Not as commonly available as anti-virus programs outside of suites.
    • Uses a library of Spyware 'fingerprints' to identify malware

  • It is important that Security Software be updated frequently, otherwise the fingerprints may become out of date.

  • Gaining Security Software