Windows Registry: Windows keeps a database (called the System Registry) of all the things it needs to remember about the way your computer is set up. This includes information about programs you have installed, which programs to use for each type of file and lots, lots more. If the registry is damaged or corrupted your computer is very likely to stop working!
Lots of the data that the registry stores is temporary, but Windows is not very good at deleting unwanted / out of date items from the registry. There are a number of programs that will remove unwanted and out of date items from the registry with the intention of speeding up your computer. However, the latest thinking is that cleaning the registry will not actually make much difference to the computer's speed and may do more harm than good.
Be suspicious: Although protective software goes on improving, there is no substitute for taking sensible precautions. Phishing and other scams go on because they are very successful at separating people from their money. Remember that there really is no such thing as a free lunch. Other than by way of bona fide charities, people do not, by and large, send gifts and money to total strangers. Bear in mind that:
- if you get an email offering to make you rich for minimal effort on your part, it is almost certainly a scam of some sort;
- people offering to sell you products for a fraction of their market value are unlikely to be honest tradesmen and the products they are selling are unlikely to be genuine;
- Banks, tax offices and other financial institutions NEVER send e-
mails asking you to give or confirm personal details. - Security companies, software companies and computer manufacturers will NEVER phone you unexpectedly.
- Viruses etc. Are often distributed as attachments to emails
Although there is such a thing as free software and some of it is trustworthy and good, the advice to be suspicious holds. There are some recommendations about free software on my Software Choices page.
SOFTWARE THAT PROTECTS YOUR COMPUTER
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