Registry Cleaning – Necessary Maintenance

The Windows registry is a big file that contains information required for the many modules and programs that have been installed on your computer. Every time the computer is booted up, this file is being referenced to be able to load all the required components and programs in the way you selected them to run, and each time a new program is installed, a lot of information is added to this registry.

When you are an active Windows user, frequently installing and uninstalling programs and other software, you may find that the computer becomes more and more sluggish all the time. One of the main culprits for this could be the number of obsolete entries and references in the Windows registry, left behind by all that software that once used to run on your computer. You assumed that by uninstalling these programs, all references to that software had been removed from your system.

Not so, however. Either intentionally or unintentionally, often many traces or sometimes even whole sections pertaining to that software are being left behind in the registry. After some time this file becomes so completely cluttered with these irresolvable references and other obsolete information, that the system starts to slow down, behave erratically and sometimes even shuts the computer down unexpectedly.

When such erratic behavior of the computer starts to show up, many people immediately start to suspect the presence of viruses or spyware, or other related malware. But then a scan of the system with anti virus software etc. may not reveal any anomalies. That is when a registry cleaner program may be called to the rescue.

Since manual editing of the registry file is too complicated and deemed too dangerous for the average, and often not so average computer user a special program designed to perform these tasks would be highly recommended.

Registry cleaners can do a marvelous job of getting the kinks out of a sluggishly operating computer. Usually the first thing they do is make a backup of a part, or the entire registry file, just in case. In the older Windows systems one could make a backup of the entire registry, but under Windows XP this is not that easy. So in the latter case only parts are backed up.
 
Most registry cleaners allow you to customize the search to some extent, but for the average user, the default choices would be recommended. These programs normally search for things such as obsolete drivers, invalid program links and startup settings, and all other orphaned references to programs and items, which no longer exist on the hard drive.

Some registry cleaners can also detect viruses and spyware, as many of such malicious intruders are either inserted into, or modify the registry. Some of these packages have options to tweak your computer even more, by letting you modify the startup sequences of the operating system, search for broken links, delete temporary files and search for duplicate files on the hard drive.

Since this constant modification of the registry is an ongoing battle, it is highly recommended to perform a scan and cleanup regularly. This should be part of the regular maintenance together with anti-virus and anti-spyware programs to keep your computer running the way you want it, and the way it was designed.
Bill Stafford has been operating a computer sales and support company for over 20 years. For more information and tips for your PC or the Internet, visit his site at: 
http://inforesources.wordpress.com/

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Is Spyware Prevention Necessary?

Most people believe that once they have anti-virus software installed on their computer, they are adequately protected from malicious intruders into their PC.
This is a serious mistake.

Viruses can ruin your computer, but some spyware can ruin your life.
Some of the more malicious forms of spyware are capable of collecting keystrokes (“key-loggers”) from your computer and transmit them back via the Internet to the cyber-criminals who installed it on your computer without you even knowing it. Another way is that these cyber-criminals can gain access to your computer via a ‘back door’ and obtain your personal information.

The information sent back across the Internet could contain account numbers and passwords to your bank accounts, credit card numbers, including verification codes, and highly sensitive personal information such as your Social Security number. The result is that these cyber-criminals could drain your bank accounts and rack up enormous charges on your credit cards before the banks or credit card companies have time to warn you about unusual activities within your accounts.

In the case where these people get a hold of your Social Security number, they can assume your identity and cause a host of hair-raising problems, such as taking out a mortgage on your house, or even selling your house or conduct criminal activities under your name. I some cases these problems may take years to get straightened out.

Fortunately most of the spyware that can be introduced to your computer is not that malicious. The vast majority of software that is secretly put onto your system consists of small pieces of information, called “cookies” which are designed to keep track of your browsing habits and enable website owners to customize the display and advertisements on their sites according to your fields of interest. Still, these advertising intrusions can also take on annoying proportions in the form of unwanted pop-up ads, useless toolbars and other modifications to your browser’s look.

The best way to protect your computer against this type of unwanted software is to install software that is specifically designed to detect and remove these types of intrusions. There are a number of anti spyware software packages out there, some better than others, but the main key is to make sure that the software you obtain is updated frequently, preferably automatically via the Internet. It is highly recommended that you yourself perform a scan of the computer regularly, at least weekly.

Many anti-spyware packages can be programmed to perform these scans automatically. Usually the default time of such software to do this scan is when you boot up the system first thing in the morning. However, this is also the time you will be most active with the computer, and performing a spyware scan and an anti virus scan could slow your PC down quite a bit. It might be better to schedule these scans to be run during off times, such as lunch or dinner hours when you least use the computer.

Scanning the computer only removes the nuisance software after it already has been installed. It is of course much better to try to prevent such intrusions before they happen.

One way is to not to plug your computer directly into the modem, but install a router between your modem and your PC. This will stop many of the attacks, but not all of them. In addition to that, the installation of a firewall presents an extra barrier to intruders. Also, make sure that you regularly update your operating system, as many of the security leaks of the software are constantly being addressed and fixed.

None of these preventive measures are foolproof, but if you combine all these techniques, you may be spared a lot of grief and annoyances.

Bill Stafford has been operating a computer sales and support company for over 20 years. For more information and tips for your PC or the Internet, visit his site at: 
http://inforesources.wordpress.com/

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Do I Really Need To Clean The Windows Registry?

The registry file in the Windows operating system is a large file or database where the Windows Operating system stores all the parameters it needs to operate properly. Every time a program is accessed or called up, the registry file is read, and from there all the various parameters and components Windows needs to function properly are located loaded to get everything just the way you like it. It consists of 5 basic sections or Root Keys, which are then sub divided into a large number of sub-keys – a structure which resembles the file folder storage on the hard drive, as presented in Windows Explorer.

It was created to combine all the numerous .ini files, which used to be scattered throughout the hard drive in the older Windows systems into one large repository. Due to the immense number of parameters it has to store and maintain, both for hardware and software, to provide all the options and variables most users have become accustomed to, it has now grown into a huge file with structures and entries which are way too complicated for the average Windows user to understand, let alone modify or tweak. Even many savvy Windows users are apprehensive to touch the registry file.

Every time new hardware or a new program is installed on the computer, a host of new entries are added to the registry, which are particular and necessary for the proper operation of this program and to provide seamless integration into the Windows system. When one un-installs a program from the computer, either through the provided uninstall program or via the ‘add/remove programs’ option in the control panel, all the registry entries pertaining to that program are supposed to be removed. However this is usually not the case. Most programs leave numerous traces and entries behind after they have been uninstalled.

In cases where people do a lot of installing and uninstalling of software for testing purposes, or just finding that the programs do not do what they are expected to do, a lot of unwanted and unnecessary entries my pile up in the registry. This could slow down the system considerably, since the system keeps finding references to certain software, can’t find it in the obvious place, and may start searching for it or trip over it. In the worst cases the system may end up ’spontaneously’ rebooting, just slow down or run much less smoothly than it used to.

Due to the fact that many of the programs running within Widows use some of the same parameters common to them, cleaning and maintaining this file can become very tricky. Since the entries in the registry are all necessary for the smooth operation of the operating system, inadvertently deleting the wrong entry may end up crippling the system and may cause some real problems for the user.

 Professionally designed registry cleaning software can prevent many of these headaches. It can search throughout the entire file and remove all entries, which have no proper references to existing hardware or software in the computer. All this is performed at a small fraction of the time, and at a much higher accuracy than a manual cleanup would provide. The chances of accidentally removing a required component and crippling the system are reduced to practically nil.

 Computers and operating systems are very much the same as any other tool one might use. For all such tools the same principle applies: the more intensively you use it, the more maintenance it will require. Keeping the registry lean and clean is certainly one of the maintenance requirements for a long and healthy life of your computer.

Bill Stafford has been operating a computer sales and support company for over 20 years. For more information and tips for your PC or the Internet, visit his site at:  http://inforesources.wordpress.com/

Can Unwanted Ads Harm Your Computer?

Most people are now familiar with the threat that viruses pose to their PCs, but an invasion of another type of unwanted software, commonly referred to as “spyware”, could be equally destructive.

Spyware is a general name for a large group of unwanted software that is downloaded and installed in the computer without the knowledge of the computer user. This type of software could range from rather innocent cookies, which keep track of what websites one has visited, to software that records key-strokes, and then sends this information back to the people who installed it, to enable them to extract information such as passwords, credit card numbers and other very sensitive personal information.

The large majority of spyware that is commonly installed on people’s computer is what is termed “adware”. This is most often a piece of information in the form of a cookie, which enables the sender to display advertisements on the computer in the form of pop-up ads. These ads can become quite annoying, but are generally not harmful to the operation of the computer.

Another type of cookie that is very common keeps track of the website one has visited, thus enabling website operators to display ads to the person browsing their site, specific to the type of preferences that person browsing the sites has displayed in the past. Such cookies allow the websites that you frequently visit, to ‘remember’ your preferences, your name, user ID or other information, which may identify you as a returning frequent visitor.

This type of personal information is generally stored in a specific subdirectory or folder on the hard drive and can be relatively easily removed, either by yourself or by your web browser, which may have a “delete cookies” button in one of the menu options.

Some more invasive types of software that can be installed on your computer without your knowledge are capable of changing your computer settings or preferences, such as installing toolbars, or modifying the default website setting in your browser. Usually these types are referred to as “spyware” and are much more difficult to remove. The most obvious signs of a spyware infection may be the sudden appearance of pop-up ads for items or sites you have no interest in at that time and are not related to what you are doing, such as gambling or adult sites.

Frequently spyware and related nuisance software is introduced to your computer during installation of software that you actually want, but then somewhere hidden in the installation procedure is a message, or if you are lucky a button to select the option to install it. However most of the time this option is so well masked or tucked away at the end of the installation process, that most people do not notice it and then inadvertently install this spyware as well. Toolbars and unwanted utilities are an example of this.

It is therefore strongly advised during installation of software for certain tools, utilities or other applications, such as browsers, free software, audio or video software or other such specific applications, to pay particular attention to any selection options, such as boxes with tic-marks or radio-buttons, and make sure you know what you are installing. If you are not sure that you want that option, or you are suspicious about it, make sure to de-select the option. You can safely do this, since if you are presented with an option to deselect it, it is not a requirement for the proper operation of the software anyway.

The most dangerous type of spyware, also referred to as “malware”, is installed on the PC without any warning at all.
This is the type of software that could collect keystrokes from your computer (key-logger), to be used for credit card fraud or even identity theft. Another type could be dial-up software which uses a modem dialer to dial out to some number that charges outrageous fees for being connected etc.

Many of these types of software have components installed in obvious places, such as the Program Files folder, but then also have components installed in much less obvious places such as the Windows system files or the registry where they are very hard to find or recognize. Therefore if you were to remove the software from the Program Files folder, it would re-install itself and re-appear when the system is rebooted. For most people the only way to get rid of this nuisance software is to avail himself or herself to the assistance of either very specialized people or software, which is designed to do this for you.

It is therefore recommended that next to your anti-virus software, you also install an anti-spyware or anti-adware program on your computer, and make sure that the software provider also updates this software regularly. Letting such programs do their work on a regular basis will keep your computer clean and could prevent some nasty experiences, something we all could live without.
Bill Stafford has been operating a computer sales and support company for over 20 years. For more information and tips for your PC or the Internet, visit his site at: 
http://inforesources.wordpress.com/