The best Anti Virus software is probably NOD32. So many people rate NOD32 as being the best overall Anti Virus because of it’s high detection rate, Good accuracy (Less False-Positives) and resource usage meaning that it does not use a lot of computer memory and CPU time.

The best Free Anti Virus software that is out right now is between Avast and AVG. Avast seems to have more features in their free version of the software than AVG have in their free version. Avast is better at stopping viruses from doing damage to the computer it is installed on than AVG.

Avast and AVG have versions that you can buy which provide more protection than their free versions but still NOD32 still is at the top of the chart when it comes to best Anti-Virus software. In the past, AVG used to have a better User Interface which made the program more user friendly than avast.

Since the release of Avast 5, The company completely remodeled the user interface and now it’s much more user friendly then earlier versions. At the end of the day, it seems like Avast is the best Free anti-virus software available.

The best Anti Virus to have would be NOD32 which you have to buy. If you are a computer users that carefully watch how you or anyone else uses your computer than you should be just fine using free Anti Virus software.

If you really want to help protect your self from virus threats, you should ALWAYS keep your computer up-to-date with the latest security patches that become available for your Operating System which is probably Windows.

People’s Pc’s can be slow for a number of reasons. One of the huge culprits, guilty of this problem are computer viruses. Things like Computer viruses, worms and spyware are designed to maliciously attach themselves to you computer and destroy your computer system.

This always causes your Pc to slow down and even struggle to open and close. Scanning for viruses and such can help you to keep your PC faster and safer. Its a well known fact that these viruses are sometimes designed to steal prsonal information.

Pc’s are also usually slow when they start to run low on memory or when you’re using a program that’s requirements aren’t met by your PC. Example 1: You download a brand new video game. This video game uses lots of memory, and requires a higher bit card then you’ve got. if your memory is really low, you Pc starts to lag. If you don’t have the requirements the game needs, your computer struggles to work harder to provide them.

Last but not least, by using your computer a lot, a lot of unnecessary files build up on your computer. For Example, when you download online files, they usually come with extras, not actually needed by your computer.These take up your system’s memory and clog it up. Even old files you no longer use clog up your system as well, like old un-used games, Word files, or music / videos. So, don’t forget to occasionally reboot your computer system to keep it clean and happy.

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The personal computer over the last twenty five years has evolved from an IBM mainframe capable of occupying significant space within a lab, to a compact, 20lbs tower, featuring dual or quad microprocessors, 1GB video cards, enhanced PCI bus expansion slots, 1 terabyte hard drives, multiple operating system platforms, 400 watt power supplies, etc.

The PC has experienced an impressive technological leap, that is unsurpassed. It’s inevitable, that with the wide variety and versatility of applications and hardware that are available in the market today, conflicts, slowdowns, freeze ups, will on occasion, arise. It’s essential to always properly maintain your PC, by installing antivirus and antimalware applications, having utility software to regularly clean up unwanted files, browser cache, cookies, ad banners, etc, as well as keeping up with the latest software updates, of the above applications to maximize the chances, of protecting your system from getting infected.

It is true of course, that there can be many reasons for a PC being slow. A virus may have infected the kernel or other critical components of the operating system, the registry may have been modified, user profile information or security settings were compromised. However, the problem may also lie with unnecessary files cluttering the hard drive to such a degree, that it’s bogging down the overall efficiency of the CPU, thus making it very difficult for main tasks to be completed in a timely manner.

Additionally, having too many applications loading up at startup, can significantly slow operations down as well as not frequently using utilities like Scandisk or Defrag, especially after several applications have been installed or uninstalled, within a relatively, short period of time.

Therefore, if the PC is slow, the best course of action would be to run utilities like CCleaner, registry clean up or optimization applications, antivirus programs that also protect the computer from incoming attacks, antispyware that specifically targets malware, worms, Trojans, etc, as well as shutting down or disabling unnecessary software that loads up on startup.

Keeping up with the latest firewall upgrades, video or sound driver updates, running apps that free up memory, should also be given serious consideration. To the very least ,the above tips should be implemented on a regular basis, to ensure maximum protection as well as peak efficiency.

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 Taking into consideration, the wide availability of software and hardware on the market today, users find themselves in the position of having to thoroughly research applications and devices to ensure proper functionality with their own PC or address compatibility issues.

It’s imperative to know the capabilities, proprietary limitations of video or sound cards, as well as properly reconciling different applications with specific requirements, so as to avoid potential conflicts. Troubleshooting a slow PC, requires to completely understand what the problem is, running a diagnostic utility to locate possible errors or unauthorized modifications to your computer, running utility, antivirus, or antimalware applications to clean up infected areas and last but not least implementing a process of elimination strategy.

Essentially, checking off of a list, the usual suspects (virus, spy ware, Trojans, etc), to narrow down the culprit. Running registry optimization software, memory enhancement apps, scandisk, defrag, disabling unnecessary programs from running in startup or in the background in general, checking through Task manager for unneeded memory allocations and unknown or hidden files that are always active.

Furthermore, updating video or sound drivers, operating system features, checking for leftover files of uninstalled programs that have taken up residence in the registry and have not been completely removed by utility software, is recommended.

It would also be advisable to run trusted, registered versions of applications for the most part, that are usually regularly updated for the latest threats, as opposed to just freeware. Additionally, being able to duplicate the problem on another computer, may go along way in successfully resolving the issue, because it may provide helpful hints that are uniquely suited to the problem at hand.

However, if this is not possible, this article’s general recommendations almost always will do the trick. There are instances, where computers simply need to be upgraded in terms of system memory and as a result adding more RAM, can also be the solution to a slow PC.

It’ important to keep in mind, that although there’s the potential for malware to wreak havoc on a personal computer, taking the proper precautions, having a regular maintenance schedule and keeping ourselves informed as to the latest breakthroughs in technology, will go a long way in enhancing our ability to understand how our PC works as well as be in a position to troubleshoot it successfully.

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While it is often difficult to determine the precise cause of your sluggish PC, there are several likely culprits. Over time, the files and folders on your hard disk drive(s) may become fragmented. You should periodically ‘defragment’ your hard disk drives(s) by using a utility program for that purpose. For example, if you are using Windows, the Disk Defragmenter can be found in Accessories, System Tools.

 However, there are many other commercial and open-source utilities with additional features that will keep your file system up to speed. The Windows registry can become fragmented, thereby slowing down your computer. Again, a good utility program can be purchased or downloaded (either as freeware or shareware) to take care of this problem.

Did you know that your system’s memory can become fragmented? There are several specialized programs that will ‘defrag’ your RAM. If your computer seems sluggish, you probably have accumulated a great number of temporary files that can be deleted, in the case of Windows, by using the Disk Cleanup utility in Accessories, System Tools.

It’s also important to empty the Windows Recycle Bin periodically. Viruses and other malware, including rootkits, can bring your PC to its knees (or to a screeching halt). It is very important that you protect your system with a good anti-virus program as well as with firewall software.

Ironically, anti-virus and firewall software may slow down your system somewhat, because of their features for updating virus signatures and blocking malicious Internet traffic. Yet these and other tools for optimizing your PC will prove to be invaluable.

The first thing to do when a computer suddenly slows down is to shut it down. Make sure it is completely powered off, and then restart it. This will typically fix any random, non-repeatable problems.

Also, make sure that it is the computer itself that is running slowly, and not your internet connection. Network congestion and problems with ISPs can look like a problem with the computer itself, but are not fixable on your end. If the problem re-occurs after rebooting, then there are a variety of things that could be going on which can be looked at by a user with no technical training.

1) There may be a program of some kind which is suddenly going out of control, using up memory and CPU time. Close all your running programs one by one, and see if the problem goes away when a certain program is closed. If all of the running programs are closed and the computer is still running slowly, then it may be one of the programs which are running all the time, such as anti-virus programs, and other tools with icons that typically reside in the system tray (in the lower right corner by the clock). Some of these programs can be exited or disabled by right-clicking on their system tray icon, but some of them may need to be uninstalled.

 2) Run a spyware/malware check using a trusted scanning tool. Malicious software can often use up computer memory and other resources in order to perform whatever tasks its creator gave it, and will often not show up in any list of programs to close or uninstall.

3) The system may be overheating and causing the CPU to slow down in order to avoid damaging itself. This is typically caused by bad ventilation or defective fans. Make sure that nothing is covering up air intakes or outputs. Opening up the computer to see if there are any broken cooling fans may void your warranty, so contact your computer manufacturer first if you believe this may be the case.

4) The computer’s memory may have developed a fault, causing the computer to stop using the defective memory stick. Check how much memory your computer says it currently has, and compare that to how much memory it should actually have. If it is smaller, contact your computer manufacturer for instructions.

5) A peripheral device may be malfunctioning. Try shutting down the computer and disconnecting all non-vital equipment, like scanners, external hard drives, USB thumb drives, webcams, printers, etc. If the problem goes away, reconnect them one by one and see which one causes the problem to return.