Tag: Structured Cabling - page 4

SEO What, SEO Who??

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated October 10, 2017

Search engine optimization or SEO for short helps you get noticed on the search engine results page. This allows potential customers to reach you. When they type in a word, the search engine pulls up relevant information. This would be called your “Organic” traffic, as you are not paying for the traffic like Pay-Per Click (Google Adwords). SEO is going to be your new best friend for reaching customers interested in your website.

Who needs SEO?

SEO is one of those things that every website can benefit from. It’s safe to assume that most website owners are utilizing SEO practices, and not even realizing it. Chances are if you have good quality content and it’s relevant to your site you are almost optimized. Of course there are a few little tricks you can do, but that is beyond this article.

Are all search engines the same?

In 2017 Google and Bing are the biggest names in search engines. However, other engines are not far behind. Other than Google my new favorite engine is DuckDuckGo! Their motto is “The search engine that doesn’t track you”. Other than not tracking data I love the bang! Feature. The bang feature is a search engine inside a search engine. What I mean by this is you can search inside of Amazon, eBay, and even social media right from duckduckgo’s main site. Here’s how it works: say you want to search Amazon for computers you type !amazon computers in the search box. It will then go to amazon and display computers as a result. Give it a try!

Do search engines display the same results?

This is like does a Ford run like a Chevy? They both get you from point A to B, but in reality they are different. This goes for search engines. They display search results but every engine does it in a different way. From how it looks, to the results it pulls. That is why when people do research they might use a few different search engines.

Learn more about Creative Programs and Systems, CPS, and the IT solutions they provide including IT consulting, computer consulting, network consulting, networking, server installation, IT disaster recovery, computer repair, virus removal, malware removal, computer tune ups, data backup systems, computer troubleshooting, structured cabling, low voltage wiring, website design, graphic design, logo design, website hosting, search engine placement, iphone app programming, android app programming, and custom programming at www.cpsmi.com. To contact one of our IT experts call 810.224.5252 today or via email at info@cpsmi.com.

Why Do I Need a Good Website Design?

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated October 10, 2017

A good web design is a must for a any website. Most of the businesses have online presence but among these, a few have a good design. Web-development, though seems simple, it requires attention to detail. If you’re website is designed poorly, or above all, is developed on a stock WordPress theme, this is not going to give you optimum results. Here are the reasons you need a good design on your website.

First Impression Lasts

No, this is not just a cliché. Just put yourself in the web-user’s shoes, learn their behavior. There are certain habits which are similar to most of the web users. A web user is not so different than a potential customer who has gotten a whiff about your store. A web user would just take a glance at a new page, skim through the text and open the link which seems interesting to him or her. He/she would not even look at most of the page. There is a pattern of an internet user’s behavior. Here it is:

People on internet go for credibility and quality. If they find low quality content, or something which does not conform to facts, they are pretty unlikely to return to your website again.
They would not read through your text. They will just analyze the web-page and find something which seems to be fulfilling their purpose to visit the site.
They don’t do the analysis by considering all the available options. They would just get the first reasonable information source. So, be the link which seems to be leading them to fulfillment of their purpose.

You Are What You Show

Your potential client is going to look at you in the way you portray yourself. Your website is you, the client is interacting with you through your website so make sure that it leaves an impression. Also, a strong web-design adds legitimacy to your business, and people value authenticity.

It Is Your Chance of Branding

Your website is your portal for public branding. You have the chance to tell people from all around the world about your company. It builds the image of your business, and a poorly built website is not going to leave a good impression of your business upon your potential clients. Your website should be telling people about what kind of brand are you; it should be reflecting the tone and mood of your business.

A Good Web Design Brings People from All Devices

You must be aware of the fact that mobile users are increasing in figures like mammoth. So, during web-development, you should take care of the website’s design and make it responsive for all devices and screen sizes. Moreover, creating an app for your business can also help you look more credible.

Conclusively, as the web users are becoming more aware and sensible, it is imperative for the growth of your business to not just have a website, but a well-designed website.

7 Tips to Hire the Best App Developer

Posted on July 19, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems

With the expanding usage of tablets, smart phones, and other mobile devices that are available today, app development for companies is incredibly significant to growing your business. Apps have achieved striking development in helping to achieve better customer service and efficiency in day to day business operations.

Thinking about creating an iphone or android app can be hard if you don’t have any knowledge about app development. This is why it many people turn to app developers specializing in app development. Specialists in the app development industry proposed that over 2.3 million people are currently developing apps around the world. For you, it is important to choose a company that specializes in app development over throwing your money away on hiring someone one that may have developed an app or two in their day, as is the case more often than not. On the off-chance that you pick any of them without putting in excessive thought into it, you may risk settling for a wrong choice.

Here, in this article, you will discover a couple of tips on the best way to hire a great app developer.

Search App Developers Profiles

You can begin by searching on freelance sites to check a developer’s profile, list of customers and possible references. These independent sites can assist you in discovering app developers. Another option is locating developer groups online can also be an extraordinary asset for discovering android app programmers since many some of them offers designs with iOS and Android development services.

Have a List of Candidates

Once you have found an app developer, you will want to ensure this developer can meet your needs. Don’t snap up the least expensive or the quickest offers. You need to make a list of candidates and thoroughly research their qualifications.

Access the Experience of the App Builder

It is very crucial that you check the experience and work of the app builder whom you will contract with. A specialist with mobile application designs will be prepared to furnish you with applications they have created and those that are not in their portfolio. The great designer can likewise address any scope of difficulties that will hinder the success of your app.

Skill to Develop Apps That Can Run on Multiple Platforms

In other to target a huge number of audiences, you may want to discharge the application on every significant platform, for example, iOS, Windows and Android. Make sure that the designer you want to hire is well talented to create applications for various stages. Clear this point with your potential app developer before doling into investing your money.

Concentrate on Quality Rather Than on Price

Choosing cheap options won’t always work well. Keep in mind that the cost of an investment frequently relies upon its complexities. In the event that your prerequisite is to build up a game application, comprehend that it will be costly since they include complex coding. Quality ought to be the real need. Make sure that applications that you offer aren’t of low quality and are easy to understand. Else, it can end up being more costly over the long haul.

Honesty and Business Ethics

Any association ought to be first of all based on honesty. Hire an app developer that esteems honesty and doesn’t take cover behind complex technical words that can confound facts. The app developer you contract with should take pride in his/her work and makes the procedure as straightforward as conceivable with the goal that you can assess the work for yourself, regardless of the possibility that you are not a specialized individual.

Take Advantage of Previous Clients Reference

Do a historical verification of the app developer whom you want to for your work. Check the sorts of application they have created in the past and evaluate how effective they are at their function. Additionally, check their past customers (if possible) and get references.

Mistakes to Avoid in Search Engine Placement

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated October 10, 2017

Search engine algorithms are constantly updated, making SEO an ever expanding field. If you want to give your website every chance of scoring a prominent place in the search engines you now have a lot more to do, and even more to remember.

It’s no wonder that many companies are bungling their SEO placement efforts and losing tons of money in the process. It’s time to learn how to do SEO right and stop making the mistakes that are tanking your earnings.

The extra work is worth it, as getting the top spot in the search engines will give your conversions a boost of around 8.5 times greater than any other lead generation method.

The single biggest mistake most businesses make with their website is not getting found for keywords related to their business. Another common mistake is getting found for the wrong keywords because they have failed to optimize their content.

One of the first steps to getting a first-page ranking is knowing what keywords to use in your copy or blog posts. Use the Google Keyword Tool to discover the keywords your target market is typing into the search engines to find out about the services or products related to your business.

When a website is new, you will often see better results by targeting long-tail keywords – which are keywords containing three or more words. Long tail keywords usually have fewer searches but also less competition, so it’s easier to rank a page.

You also need to know what keywords not to target. If you’re going to try and rank for every keyword, then you most likely aren’t going to rank for any of them.

Plus, if customers are finding your site for the wrong keywords they are going to ‘bounce’ off your site and go back to the search results to find a more relevant page.

As bounce rate is a metric Google puts a lot of emphasis on when deciding which page to rank for a given term you want the keywords your business gets found for to be super relevant to your content.

Search engine placement is a vast and ever-expanding topic, but keywords are integral to being found and securing highly targeted leads. Start improving your results by making sure your site is providing the best solution in relation to the keywords you are targeting.

Stерѕ Tо Tаkе If Yоu Thіnk Yоur Computer Hаѕ a Virus

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated October 10, 2017

It can bе a gut punch tо rеаlіzе that уоur PC mау bе іnfесtеd with virus (thе саtсhаll tеrm for vіruѕеѕ, Trоjаnѕ, worms, аnd other nаѕtіеѕ). If уоu dоn’t hаvе аntіvіruѕ ѕоftwаrе installed аnd rеаdу to сlеаn your system, thе ѕіtuаtіоn can dеtеrіоrаtе quickly. But wе have tірѕ for bаѕіс damage соntrоl fоr уоur соmрutеr аnd thе devices іt’ѕ соnnесtеd to.

Dіѕсоnnесt уоur PC frоm the network

Virus’ frеԛuеntlу uѕеѕ the Intеrnеt tо соnnесt уоur PC tо аnоthеr соmрutеr that mау gіvе you іnѕtruсtіоnѕ, mаkе it transmit dаtа оr bоth. Vіruѕ can еvеn rесеіvе раtсhеѕ to fіx bugѕ аnd performance, juѕt as thе legit ѕоftwаrе does. Anоthеr fаvоrіtе асtіvіtу is to ѕеаrсh уоur hоmе’ѕ lосаl nеtwоrk for other computers to infect. That’s оnе оf thе reasons to рrасtісе gооd ѕесurіtу whеn uѕіng рublіс Wi-Fi, аnd thе rеаѕоn whу you ѕhоuld dіѕсоnnесt a PC that уоu believe has been infected.

If уоu are uѕіng аn Internet connection, just unрlug the Intеrnеt саblе. If you аrе uѕіng Wі-Fі оn a laptop, thеrе іѕ uѕuаllу a ѕwіtсh аt thе top оf the kеуbоаrd thаt will tоgglе уоur Wi-Fi оff аnd on. If you аrе using Wi-Fi оn a dеѕktор PC, there usually іѕn’t a ѕwіtсh, and thе vіruѕ mау blосk ѕоftwаrе-bаѕеd аttеmрtѕ tо ѕhut down уоur nеtwоrk соnnесtіоn. You mау аlѕо have both Intеrnеt and Wі-Fі орtіоnѕ оn thе same device, іn whісh саѕе you should disable bоth.

Shut dоwn уоur PC

Even іf the vіruѕ loses іtѕ Internet соnnесtіоn, it саn hаrm the dеvісе that it’s аlrеаdу оn, bу deleting or соrruрtіng fіlеѕ or ransoming thеm. Rаnѕоmwаrе еnсrурtѕ files that appear tо bе іmроrtаnt (mауbе уоur whole Dосumеntѕ fоldеr, fоr еxаmрlе), thеn dеmаndѕ that уоu pay tо rеgаіn ассеѕѕ tо thоѕе fіlеѕ. Sо еvеn if уоu remove rаnѕоmwаrе from уоur ѕуѕtеm, уоu hаvеn’t removed the encryption. That requires a password — designed tо be fаr tоо complex tо guess оr crack in a rеаѕоnаblе аmоunt of tіmе.

Vіruѕ may аttеmрt tо рrеvеnt уоu frоm ѕhuttіng down уоur PC, but уоu саn gеt around that bу hоldіng down thе роwеr button оn уоur PC for about fіvе ѕесоndѕ. This wіll fоrсе a ѕhutdоwn, so ѕаvе уоur documents аnd сlоѕе programs bеfоrе уоu рrосееd, оr еlѕе уоu mау соrruрt files.

Back up уоur fіlеѕ

Circumstances lіkе thіѕ аrе whу rеgulаr backups of уоur dаtа аrе ѕо іmроrtаnt. Put уоur ѕtuff in a ѕесurе cloud, put іt on аn еxtеrnаl drіvе, and store соріеѕ оf уоur rеаllу іmроrtаnt fіlеѕ. Your bеѕt preparation against vіruѕ іѕ tо kеер multірlе соріеѕ of уоur dаtа in multiple locations.

If уоu have a rеѕсuе dіѕk оr thumb drіvе, уоu саn ѕtаrt your computer and tеll іt to boot from this ѕtоrаgе mеdіum. Thе rесоvеrу disk оr drіvе lоаdѕ a ѕсаnnеr thаt уоu’vе installed on it, аnd it looks at уоur infected соmрutеr’ѕ іntеrnаl ѕtоrаgе dеvісеѕ fоr vіruѕ bеfоrе Wіndоwѕ loads. Yоu саn, оf course, scan уоur соmрutеr аftеr Windows bооtѕ, but ѕоmе virus can іntеrfеrе with or block thе ѕсаnnіng process, оr simply hіdе mоrе еаѕіlу.

Ideally, you ѕhоuld рlаn аhеаd and сrеаtе a rescue tool bеfоrе you run іntо a vіruѕ. But іf your PC’ѕ already іnfесtеd, уоu nееd a second PC that has an Internet connection or an аntіvіruѕ app with аn еmеrgеnсу media-creation fеаturе. If уоu trу to сrеаtе a rеѕсuе disk оn thе іnfесtеd mасhіnе, thе vіruѕ mау tаmреr with thе process or even copy vіruѕ оntо the mеdіа. Yоu аlѕо nееd a blаnk DVD аnd DVD burnеr оr else an empty USB thumb drive.

Bооt from thе rеѕсuе dіѕk

The рrосеѕѕ for tеllіng a computer to bооt frоm a DVD оr thumb drіvе іnѕtеаd оf Wіndоwѕ vаrіеѕ bу dеvісе. You may have tо соnѕult уоur PC’ѕ documentation to figure whаt buttоnѕ to рrеѕѕ. For еxаmрlе, sometimes уоu juѕt tар F11 while уоur PC іѕ ѕtаrtіng up to gеt a list of dеvісеѕ уоu саn bооt frоm. Navigate thе lіѕt with your keyboard’s аrrоw kеуѕ аnd select with the Enter kеу. Othеr tіmеѕ you muѕt dіvе into the BIOS оr UEFI — a rudimentary іntеrfасе thаt соntrоlѕ mаnу of thе funсtіоnѕ of thе dіffеrеnt соmроnеntѕ іnѕіdе уоur computer — аnd hunt fоr mеnu options related tо bооtіng, then ѕаvе your changes and exit.

Even аftеr you mаkе and bооt a rеѕсuе dіѕk, it mау not dеtесt thе virus, оr thе іѕѕuе mау not bе vіruѕ-rеlаtеd. But аѕ long аѕ you tаkе action ԛuісklу аgаіnѕt vіruѕ, and as lоng аѕ уоu regularly backup уоur dаtа tо multiple lосаtіоnѕ, уоu саn hеlр prevent tоtаl disaster: thе permanent loss оf сrіtісаl files.

Is Your Computer Running Correctly?

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated October 10, 2017

You likely already know if your computer is running correctly. In today’s fast passed electronic world it’s impossible not to notice when your electronics are not in tip top shape. Even minor glitches can result in major productivity losses. These glitches can nearly always be traced back to hardware or software issues.

As with many other devise computers were out over time. Most have moving internals prone to wear just like the tires on your car. Eventually these parts break down and need to be replaced. Even if your computer is mechanically sound software can become bloated and slow over time. Things like updates and ever more demanding software can cripple your once snappy PC.

It is vital to your productivity, and likely sanity, to keep your computer happily buzzing along. Here are some tips that can help minimize computer problems and your devices start to age:

Keep your computer clean. Heat is one of the biggest killers of computer components. Many components are designed around a steady amount of airflow to keep them cool. Excess heat causes components to wear prematurely or in some cases give up the ghost entirely. Most heat issues can be resolved by simply blowing out the vents of your computer with a can of compressed air once every few months.
Run a credible anti-virus software. Some performance issues can be traced back to malicious software on your computer. While some infections harass you with advertisement and pop-ups, others silently siphon resources away. These silent infections join your computer to something known as a bot net. Hackers use these to spread more infections or hack other targets.
Keep your systems up to date. Updates are frequently release to improve performance or resolve issues as they are discovered. Keeping your computer updated will ensure your computer is secure and operating as intended.
Defragment your computer. As your computer moves data, the hard drive becomes “fragmented”. Your files are stored in many pieces across various areas of the hard drive. As the pieces get farther away from each other your performance will start to suffer. Newer operating systems like Windows 10 defragment automatically.

Upgrade your RAM. As programs are updated they can frequently become more demanding on your computer. One easy way to stay ahead of this problem is to upgrade your computers RAM or memory. The computer temporarily stores data in RAM for quick access. When it’s all in use the computer has to access your hard drive every time it needs a file resulting dramatic performance loss.

Reduce clutter. It’s always a good idea to keep your hard drive as clean as possible. While this shouldn’t stop you from downloading your favorite movies or music, you should consider removing software you are never going to use again. Computer can run into issues when your hard drive is at 85% capacity or above. Removing old software helps free up space and removes and old processes that may be using resources in the background.

Following these basic steps will help keep your computer functioning as intended. In this new technology depended world there should be a new phrase, “Happy device-Happy life”

Why is a Custom Coded Website better for SEO than a Template?

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated October 10, 2017

Search engine optimization, otherwise known as SEO, is very important to entrepreneurs who want to promote their business, obtain new clients, and retain current clients. SEO allows business owners to connect with potential clients searching for their products or services, helping to turn them into customers. Keywords, link building, updated content, trust, and more all helps to increase the visibility of a website and lead to a higher number of visitors to the website.

While it may not be straightforward or easy, implementing an effective SEO strategy, especially with recent updates to Google’s ranking algorithm, the Google Keyword Planner, and organic listings are all possible. It is important to determine how customers will search your website as well as how and what you must offer as optimized keywords on your landing page.

Depending on your product, a website design and layout is very important to the overall SEO process. There are two types of websites including: custom coded and templates. Both types of websites have their pros and cons.

Many websites today are developed through a content management system, which allows companies to easily and quickly update their sites without technical support. The most popular CMS is WordPress. It can easily be customized to fit a company’s needs and brand.

Custom coded websites are not created from a template instead are custom designed by a team of graphic designers and programmers from scratch. These sites can be a bit more expensive and take a bit longer to develop. A custom designed site can also be better for search engine optimization and placement of your website within search engines such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing.

Custom Coded Website

Custom websites are built from scratch rather than from a box. Custom websites allow you to show your company’s culture and personality using a unique design. The design can be presented, revised, and built into a custom platform for your website.
A custom website is always expandable. Customized features are added to make your website more flexible and easier to manage.
Custom sites are up-to-date with SEO and code practices. This all helps to increase the longevity of the website.
You have access via your account to the support of skilled developers who code from scratch as well as troubleshoot and fix bugs that may arise on the site.

Website Template

Website templates are user-friendly. You can change the colors and the fonts but the layout is pretty much set-up for you.
You can always change the layout just to avoid other websites resembling yours.
Website templates are often plug and play and take a very short time to develop.
They are less expensive, especially for start-up companies that need a website up quickly and on a low budget.

Templates have limited customization, which is good for companies who simply need to s of website templates is that there is limited to virtually no access to skilled developers. Templates are purchased online and will never gain you access to the person who built it. This reason alone makes a custom website a better option.

An IT Network at Your Company Will Save You

Posted on June 15, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated October 10, 2017

As the owner of a company one of your main goals of improved customer relations, increased profitability and fewer expenses. It is critical that you adjust where it makes sense, cut unnecessary expenses, and only make changes that are in line with the companies end goal. One aspect where companies often loose site of the value is within IT.

It is rare that in today’s business world an office will consist of just one or two employees. This makes networking so important to your companies IT services. There are a number of benefits and savings that can be found when companies network their IT systems. From managing important company data to simply sharing interoffice communications securely computer system networking can benefit companies both large and small.

Importance of IT Networking

Manage Data Critical to the Organization

In an organization there are always key elements that need to be accessible to top personnel at all times. A network server allows for an organization to safely store document on one central server instead of individual computers. This help to keep the records organized and allows changes to me made in real time. This means that when the document is pulled up anywhere in the office the changes that were made will be up to date when they are viewed.

When networking is done correctly records on the server will be cataloged in a manner that only allows them to be accessed by those with permission. If one department does not have the same permissions the files they are not allowed to access will be password protected to avoid documentation ending up in the wrong hands. Only information that is to be accessible to the company as a whole will be able to see what is not password protected.

It Simplifies Sharing Data

In order to share information to individual PC’s that are not networked files must be downloaded and uploaded to each individual system from the original source. When an IT network is in place the process of sharing information becomes far less demanding. Information is stored and accessed from one central server. This sever communicates with each PC individually. In order to share information all that has to be done is for access to be granted. There is no need to exchange files between devices using external storage devices. This saves a lot of time and energy when working on projects as a team.

Flexibility in Accessing Information

Since the files are on a central server it doesn’t make a difference what PC you are doing your work on. You can work on a project from your personal computer at home or a PC at work. No matter where you are working from the information will be shared to the server in real time and updated to allow individuals to see the latest information.

Shared Office Equipment

When computers in an organization are networked it allows them all to share one printer, one fax machine, and other necessary resources. This is a whole lot cheaper than supplying a separate piece of machinery for each individual PC; thus saving time and money.

There are a number of reasons to consider consulting with an IT professional today to get your systems networked. The benefits of networking your office will help meet your end goals of providing amazing customer service while increasing profits and decreasing expenses.

Is It Important To Network Your Companies Computers?

Posted on June 6, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated October 10, 2017

Have you ever lost files or data on your computer and could not get them back? Did your computer somehow get malware and you aren’t able to access your data? Did your files become corrupt and couldn’t be retrieved? The best solution would be to have some kind of backup before these problems occur. Data backup systems are one of the most important things you should have in place for your business.

The security of vital information is important. Business owners must take necessary steps to ensure that the data is backed up regularly. Unfortunately, only about half of all business owners have a data back up in place. A routine back up is necessary for all business owners. At times, business owners and managers are not experienced enough to carry out data backups on their own. Thus the importance of working with an IT consulting firm that specializes in data backups and networking.

The sad part is that disasters don’t give warnings before they strike. As a matter of fact, dropping a hard drive by mistake can ruin a well-established business. Irrespective of the kind of tragedy your computer networking business may suffer from you should take steps to ensure that your files are in good hands.

The importance of data backup is numerous including:

Higher Reliability

According to IT consultants, the greatest importance of data backup is the reliability it offers. The beauty of the system is that the backup process can be carried out on a daily basis without any problem and that the process is fully automated. Aside from this, you can get access to your files instantly, as the data is stored on a cloud server. So, you needn’t wait for your files to be resent to you.

Easy Set-Up

At first, you may feel that creating a backup of your data is a hard nut to crack, but once you have got an understanding of the process, you will be able to do it with a few clicks. All you will need do to get the system ready and enable the automation feature. Once you have done that, rest assured that your data is safe and backed-up on a regular basis.

Reduced workload

It may take a lot of time to backup files manually. The manual process requires the services of at least one professional. On the other hand, remote data backup is automated, so you don’t need to worry about creating a backup of the files and then storing them on a DVD or USB drive. So, the whole process saves you lots of time.

Greater Security

In remote data backup, the data is stored in a safe location. So, the information is in good hands at all times. Usually, the security is increased through some advanced encryption systems. They are used in both software and hardware level. As a result, there is almost no chance of anyone breaking into the system. Your data will be safe from hackers as well.

Saves Money

For a moment, just think about the equipment required to create a backup of the files your business uses. Aside from the equipment cost, you will also spend a good deal of money to buy space for the equipment installation. And if you own a lot of computers with plenty of data, the cost of the equipment and space requirement will be very high. So, opting for cloud storage can save you plenty of money.

It is crucial that computers within your company are networked to a server that has an adequate backup running at least once a day to avoid disaster if the server or computer should ever fail.

Understanding What A Computer Virus Can Do

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Creative Programs and Systems - Updated October 10, 2017

No matter how careful you are with your computer, it more than likely will face some issue over time. This typically includes slow speeds, error messages, file corruptions, and reboot issues. There are times these issues are due to the computer’s age or simple hardware issues. These can be rectified by replacing the part that has been causing the problem. In other cases, it may be due to a software problem.

However, in today’s day of high-speed downloads, the issue is usually due to a virus or spyware. Computer viruses are software programs that spread within the operating system by multiplying and corrupting essential files, eventually making the computer unusable. Whereas spyware is a piece of code that has been designed to obtain your personal information and send it out to third parties.

Spyware and viruses have the ability to enter your computer through a variety of means. Email attachments, software installs, online games, and untrusted downloads all have the ability to infect your computer with a dangerous virus or spyware. Both the spyware and virus have the ability to slow down your processor speed, change the homepage, alter registry settings, damage your files, and display a wide range of content and pop-ups.

One of the best methods for keeping your computer clean is to avoid putting your computer in such dangerous positions. Before you download anything from a website be sure to read the agreement. Your internet security settings should be set to medium or higher. Even taking the above steps is not enough to keep your computer safe from infections. When your computer is connected to a network, the threat level is magnified.

It is essential that anti-spyware and anti-virus software has been properly installed on your computer. There are a number of software suites available on the market that will cater to your individual budget and needs. However, like all things in life, not everything is what it would seem. There are some anti-spyware programs available online that are spyware programs themselves! It is quite important to download from only trusted sites and once again, read all of the fine print. Once the proper software has been installed on your computer, it is generally just a matter of hitting start to remove the unwanted programs from your computer.

If you feel you know where the culprit is hiding, you can start in that folder. However, it is typically best to scan the entire system, this is done by selecting all drives and folders. This type of scan will take several hours but it will find all viruses and spyware on the computer and remove them. In addition, there are many products available that will offer real-time protection for your computer. These products will prevent any form of malicious code from entering into the computer. They will continually scan the computer looking for anything that may be a virus of spyware and block it. In fact, these products have the ability to warn you of any suspicious sites before you even visit them.

These products are an excellent addition to your arsenal in keeping your files and computer safe. However, there are times when a computer is going to be too infected for one of these products to clean the system. In this case, you will have two options. One is to reformat the hard drive and reinstall all programs. Or bring it to a computer repair shop and hope that the system can be salvaged. They will back up your essential files and important documents and restore the computer to its factory settings.

The most important thing to remember is to think before you click when online. And if the situation becomes too bad, it is best to talk to a professional as soon as possible.