Clean Out Your Files
Start by clearing your computer of old files that you no longer need. Ask yourself “What would happen if I deleted this from my laptop?” If you realize you don’t need it, delete it. Also look for older versions of a document you revised in the past. There really isn’t any reason to keep the original version, unless your job or company requires it. If you let your computer get cluttered with too many unnecessary files, it may slow down your load time.
Change Your Passwords
A survey from threat prevention software provider Preempt states that 35 percent of Internet users have weak passwords. When examining how long it would take to crack a password, this same study states that low complexity passwords (or organizations that only require a password to meet a certain number of characters) can be cracked open in a day. Make sure you update the passwords for your banking account, your email and your social media accounts. Also use numbers and punctuation marks to make passwords harder to decipher.
Backup Your Data
Even the most advanced computers on the market can suffer from hard drive issues, and there is no worse feeling than losing all of your important documents at a moment’s notice.
One of the best ways to backup your data is to buy an external hard drive so you can copy all of your computer documents to it. You can also use an online cloud service to backup your data as well. After you complete the backup, make sure you can access all of your documents because you don’t want to find out later that you lost an important one.
Update Your Antivirus Software
See if your antivirus software is up-to-date, and is regularly scanning for viruses. If you are paying a subscription, remind yourself to make your payments so your software doesn’t expire.
If you don’t have an antivirus program, you should look into programs like Norton or McAfee. If cash is tight, don’t be afraid to sign up for a free antivirus program. Free programs like AVG can be very helpful in terms of keeping viruses off your computer.
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