Keep your computer clean and running smoothly with all free programs

These are all free programs and I know I keep adding to it, but it's important and if you follow it, you should have no problems.

CCleaner: http://www.ccleaner.com/  is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool.

It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your internet history.

Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner.

But the best part is that it's fast (normally taking less than a second to run and contains NO Spyware or Adware! :)

**run this at least a few times a week, then run "disk cleanup" from the start menu.

It should be set to check for updates automatically. if it finds an update, it will open up your browser where you can download the file. Please make sure you are downloading ccleaner and not one of the other programs that are on the site.  (there are lots of advertised programs on the site)

Malwarebytes: http://www.malwarebytes.org/  (the Free version)

We at Malwarebytes have created an easy-to-use, simple, and effective anti-malware application. Whether you know it or not your computer is always at risk of becoming infected with viruses, worms, trojans, rootkits, dialers, spyware, and malware that are constantly evolving and becoming harder to detect and remove.

Only the most sophisticated anti-malware techniques can detect and remove these malicious programs from your computer.

***use this if you feel you have a virus/trojan/spyware/adware, etc. (you can use at any time)

Choose Quick or Full scan (preferably Full). Once it's done, click view Results then Remove selected (all of them should be checked). It will then tell you to restart your computer.

Spybot Search & Destroy: http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Application to scan for spyware, adware, hijackers and other malicious software It will ask you to search for updates when it starts. Download, if available. Once program opens, click "check for problems". when it's done, "check all", "remove selected", then click on "recovery" icon on left side menu, again, "select all", "remove selected". close program.

HiJackThis: http://free.antivirus.com/hijackthis/  Trend Micro HijackThis is a free utility that generates an in depth report of registry and file settings from your computer. HijackThis makes no separation between safe and unsafe settings in its scan results giving you the ability to selectively remove items from your machine. In addition to this scan and remove capability HijackThis comes with several tools useful in manually removing malware from a computer.

IMPORTANT: HijackThis does not determine what is good or bad. Do not make any changes to your computer settings unless you are an expert computer user.  Advanced users can use HijackThis to remove unwanted settings or files.

JV Powertools Lite: http://www.macecraft.com/ptlite/

•Detects and fixes registry errors

•Finds and cleans unneeded registry junk

•Finds leftover temp files

•Clears History and MRU data

•Safe to use - automatic backup feature

When program opens, it will ask if you want to run a quick analysis.

You may do that, then click "clean and fix my computer". It will scan for errors, once done, click "fix"

You may choose to backup when it asks, then it will fix errors. When complete, close the program.

Antivirus:

Microsoft Security Essentials: http://www.microsoft.com/Security_essentials/ (I like this one)

AVG FREE: http://free.avg.com/us-en/download.prd-afh (I like this one too)
Panda Cloud Antivirus: http://www.cloudantivirus.com/en/

*remember, your anti-virus software will more than likely not catch everything. That is why there are these other programs to assist you.

Web Of Trust: http://www.mywot.com/  WOT is a community-based safe surfing tool that warns you about risky sites that cheat customers, deliver malware or send spam. For Firefox, IE & Google Chrome.

Disk Defragment. It is automated if you have Vista or Windows 7. If you have XP, run it once a month or so.

Blue Screen of Death stop error codes: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/findbyerrormessage/tp/stop_error_list.htm

Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool: http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.aspx The Microsoft Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool checks computers running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Server 2003 for infections by specific, prevalent malicious software—including Blaster, Sasser, and Mydoom—and helps remove any infection found.

Note: if you think you have a virus, run the programs above. Make sure that you have Updated them first.

If your e-mail account is hacked and sending out messages that contain a virus.

• make sure you have run Windows updates for any security patches that are available.
• use The Secunia Online Software Inspector, or short OSI, is a fast way to scan your PC for the most common programs and vulnerabilities, thus checking if your PC has a minimum security baseline against known patched vulnerabilities. http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/
• make sure you change your passwords and they are strong. Use a password manager. I use Roboform paid version, but there is a free one. http://keepass.info/
• run Spybot, Malwarebytes and your antivirus
• If you get an error that you can't run them, then reboot your computer, tap F8 to get to safe mode with networking so you can run the programs.

Facebook problems.

A friend of mine recently clicked on a link sent to him by a friend, which in turn, went to FB chat and sent IM's to all his friends with a link to this app. Here's how to get rid of apps that you don't want:

Account

Privacy settings

Apps and websites

Edit settings

There you can change, remove, etc all sorts of things with regards to apps and your privacy.

Please review this guide carefully. It will solve most of your problems, if followed.