After almost 13 years of battling security problems on Windows machines, I’m finally seeing the light of day and recommending Mac’s and Linux for many computer users. It will be a long journey convincing people that there is life beyond Microsoft.
For those who bang away with Microsoft Windows computers,and have problems with Slow Computer Disease (SCD), pop-ups, viruses and other problems, I present the following sage advice:
I’ve learned that when it comes to spyware/adware (THE major cause of SCD), if it takes more than an hour to troubleshoot and solve, you will be WAY AHEAD of the game to:
1. Backup your data
2. Reformat the system, and resinstall Windows
3. Install GOOD security software BEFORE connecting to the Internet (I like AVG, SpyBot Search & Destroy, Super Anti-spyware)
4. Install THE best tool for fighting spyware: Mozilla Firefox. Use Firefox as your primary web browser.
5. Keep your security software updated as well as Windows patches
Battling spyware can be a long and frustrating experience (and costly if you bring tech people into the mix), and with extreme infections, you will NEVER get the system back to normal without doing the above steps. So, know when to say when and save yourself some grief and get back to a usable computer quicker following these steps.
