Computer Performance Tools - Fraud and Fiction

by Digital Reliability

There are many web sites advertising the usage of computer tools to make your computer run faster, better, free disk space, improve Internet browsing, and a million other promises. However, few are even necessary and the ones that work are usually free for home use.

Things to watch out for:

• Tools requiring the installation of toolbars, advertising, music, or other unwanted software.
• Tools that you do not recognize from companies you have never heard from before.
• Tools that warn or even threaten that without their software your computer is "at risk", or "infected".
• Tools that claim to be "Registry Cleaners"
• These tools are either malicious or are monitoring your browsing for targeted advertisements. In addition they never have your computer's best interest in mind and are poorly written; thus, making your computer slower with time.

Stay clear of names you do not recognize in the browser toolbar market. Stick with browser tool bars from: Google, Yahoo, MSN.

Some of the basics will still keep you safe: 1) Do not install applications sent via email; 2) If it's too good to be true, it probably is.

If you believe you have a virus, call a professional computer technician immediately - they can clean up your computer in mere hours with little or no damage.

A couple of tools we feel are both easy to use and perform an actual service are: AdAware and Spybot - both of which are free for home use.

Both tools are available for download online and both will help clean your computer of unwanted advertising and spying software that makes your computer slow and unsafe.

AdAware - http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
SpyBot - http://www.safer-networking.org/