Suggested Protection

And

Maintenance Schedule

Basic Protection:

1. Install and use a good Anti-Virus program

2. Ensure that your Anti-virus program is set to automatically protect your system

3. Have some sort of surge protection (Surge Protection Tipsheet)

4. Install and use a quality Spyware Protection program

5. We recommend having at least 2 anti-spyware programs installed on the computer

6. Install a software firewall, at the very least make sure  the windows firewall is protecting your connection

7. Windows Updates: Ensure that you have allowed Automatic Updates.

Daily

1. Run a virus scan

2. Your program may be set to perform a automatic scan every day. If not, run a manual scan.

3. Install any Microsoft Windows Updates that you are prompted to install

4. Backup (Backup Tipsheet)

Weekly

1. Update your Anti-Virus software. Most will update automatically. If yours doesn't auto update, set it so it will.

2. Update and run your Anti-Spyware programs

3. Perform a Disk Cleanup (Disk Cleanup Tipsheet)

4. Backup (Backup Tipsheet)

Monthly or Quarterly Depending Upon Your Computer Usage Pattern

1. Perform a Hard Disk Error Check (used to be called Scan Disk).

2. Perform a Disc Defragmentation "defrag" (Defrag Tipsheet)

3. Backup (Backup Tipsheet)

Yearly

1. Turn computer off and unplug the power cable from the mains power.

2. Open your case and clean the dust out with compressed air (the air in the can, made for computers). Be gentle

3. If unsure of how to do this call a professional

4. Give the area where you store the computer a good vacuuming

5. Check our your backup CDs to make sure they still are in good shape, working and contains all your important information.

In case of lightening storm

1. Unplug your computer and equipment for the mains power, do not just turn it off, unplug it.

2. Unplug the phone line from your modem to the phone connection.

Click here for a  PDF copy of this Tipsheet