PHmark151515
Journeyman
1. Keep the Keyboard, Mouse, and Openings Clean
Start with the easy stuff: keeping your deviceās accessories and openings clean.
A dirty keyboard will eventually stop working properly. Ditto for a dirty mouse. A You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. costs roughly $20 new, so replacing yours wonāt ruin you, but that money could absolutely be spent on better things.
To clean your keyboardās more accessible surfaces, use a damp, lint-free cloth. Donāt spray water directly onto the keyboard or allow water to pool anywhere on it ā this will only make things worse. Use the same approach to clean your mouseās accessible surfaces.
To clean harder-to-reach parts of your keyboard and mouse, such as the mouseās optical opening and the spaces underneath the keys, use a You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. You can get one for $5 or $6 online or in your local hardware store.
Donāt neglect laptop and desktop ports and crevices either. Dusty or particle-clogged ports reduce airflow into and out of the device, increasing the risk of overheating. If youāre prone to forgetting small tasks like this, set a recurring calendar reminder every month.
2. Gently Clean Your Monitor
Your monitor might seem solid enough, but itās just as vulnerable to dust and debris as your keyboard and ports. Dust it periodically with a microfiber cloth. Remove tougher stains with You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., which should cost you no more than $6 to $10 per can.
3. Keep Food and Beverages Away From Desktops and Laptops
Repeat after me: Donāt eat or drink over your desktop or laptop!
Easier said than done when youāre working through your lunch break or binge-watching your favorite show with a bowl of ice cream, of course. But think of the consequences: A single spill is enough to destroy a keyboard, and a high-volume dump could penetrate the deviceās casing and wreak havoc on its internal components.
After prematurely KOing two keyboards in rapid succession, I instituted a new rule in my household: nothing but water on the same surface as my laptop. Itās not easy, but so far Iāve managed to hold fast. I highly recommend you do the same.
4. Organize Cords and Other e-Debris
If you have an active You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. setup, it probably features a mess of cords, power strips, and random accessories on the floors and working surfaces.
This mess is unsightly and unwieldy at minimum. If you have small children or pets, it may well present an electrocution risk. Depending on how loaded-up your power strips and outlets are, you could have a fire hazard on your hands. And jumbled cords are more vulnerable to damage, meaning higher long-term ownership costs.
Fixing this is easy. First, buy an extra power strip or two ā you can get a 2-pack of 6-outlet strips for You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. Then, procure some twist-ties (negligible cost) or You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. ($6 to $14, depending on the type) to hold everything together in intentional fashion. Unplug, detangle, and reorient your cords in your handy new organization system. Then plug everything back in. Thatās it.
Pro Tip: Seeking more home office hƤƧks? Check out our post on the You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., then check with your tax advisor to determine whether you qualify.
5. Donāt Overcharge Your Batteries
Resist the temptation to keep your portable devices plugged in at all times. Not only is this a needless drain on your local power grid, which means preventable bloat for your utility bill, but itās also actively bad for your devicesā batteries.
Unnecessary charging actually retards batteriesā regenerative capabilities. A year or so on, or maybe sooner, youāll notice a drop-off in your deviceās ability to hold a charge. Itāll eventually worsen to the point that youāll need to have your charging cord handy ā meaning you wonāt be able to work or play online without an outlet nearby.
Donāt charge until your device is good and ready. I wait until my laptop gets down below 20%, for instance.
6. Donāt Block the Vents
Like people, desktop and laptop computers need to breathe.
The operative rule here is ādonāt block the vents.ā Just like people, machines need to breathe ā though, in their case, itās to ensure their insides remain cool enough to function properly.
If you have a desktop, keep the tower clear of any obstructions, like cabinets or walls. If itās possible to do so securely, elevate it to ensure good airflow on both sides. For laptops, maintain a clear workspace free from clutter that could obstruct airflow ā for instance, papers or books. Periodically check that the fans are working as well.
No matter what kind of device you have, maintain adequate ventilation and reasonable climate control. You donāt have to blast the AC or leave the windows open in the winter, but setting the thermostat to 80 probably isnāt a great idea either.
7. Have Desiccant on Hand
You dropped your phone in the toilet. Oops! Whatās your next move?
With little hesitation, most people confidently answer: āPut it in a jar of rice!ā
Thatās not the worst thing you could do for your waterlogged phone, but itās not the ideal fix either. Rice is merely the best desiccant, or drying agent, that most people have lying around the home. Itās not made for clearing water from sensitive devices ā itās made for eating.
As it turns out, there are products made specifically to mop moisture out of electronics. Theyāre commonly known as desiccant bags, and theyāre cheap ā You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., each more than sufficient to dry out a waterlogged phone.
An even cheaper alternative: the little silica gel bags that come in many shipping boxes. Rather than throwing them out, collect them as they come in, taking care to store them somewhere child- and pet-proof. Youāll need several to dry out a dripping phone.
8. Keep Magnets Away
Keep your home office ā and your devices themselves ā away from magnets, even the weak refrigerator kinds. Your hard drive is incredibly sensitive to magnetic fields of any strength.
If you need to remember websites or phone numbers, use Post-it notes or digital files instead. Keep magnets where they belong ā in the kitchen.
9. Be Careful With Unfamiliar WiFi Networks
Be wary of unsecured WiFi networks in coffee shops, airports, hotel lobbies, and other public places. Without basic network security, your computer is a sitting duck ā out there in the open for any hƤƧker or cyber criminal who feels like sending a malware package your way. When in doubt, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your connection and repel attacks.
Pro Tip: If youāre not sure youāre doing enough to safeguard your computer ā or the personal information stored within ā check out our roundup of tips to protect your privacy online.
10. Get a Phone Case and Screen Protector
I have a confession to make: Iāve never cracked a phone screen. Whether thatās down to luck, exceptional care, or a mixture of the two, Iām not sure.
Iām probably in the minority on this one. My wife cracked her last three screens, all under relatively mundane circumstances. Phones are resilient, but not indestructible. Drop them the wrong way and youāll be living with the consequences.
The choice between purchasing a brand new phone or buying a protective enclosure to deflect kinetic energy is no choice at all. Quality cases cost You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., and cheaper still at discount websites and on the secondary market.
Ditto for You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. Theyāre even cheaper ā as little as $5 to $6 apiece, depending on screen size and width. While they wonāt protect against violent impacts, theyāll resist scratching indefinitely under normal circumstances.
Software and System Maintenance Tips
These tips cover devicesā hardware components, operating systems, memory, software, and vulnerability to external threats.
11. Shut It Down Properly Every Night
Bake this into your nightly routine. It only takes a minute each day, and it could prolong your devicesā life for months or years. Itās especially important for Windows machines, since Microsoft only patches systems in shutdown mode.
Also, how you shut down matters. Avoid ācold bootingā your machine: holding down the power button until the system shuts itself off. Thatās for emergencies only ā otherwise, it just stresses your hardware and software. Take the extra minute or two to shut down the machine properly, using your operating systemās shutdown button.
Itās your call whether you want to apply this tip to your mobile devices. I personally only shut down my smartphone for updates, since I like to be available for emergency calls and alerts through the night.
12. Always Have Your Firewall Running
Your operating systemās firewall is your deviceās first line of defense against malware. With rare exceptions, it should always be up and running.
This is especially important when youāre installing new programs, and doubly so when youāve downloaded the program files from a source other than the developer or manufacturer. (Generally, you should avoid downloading any files from an unverified source.)
Turning on your firewall is easy. If you have a PC desktop or laptop, read Microsoftās primer You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. Mac OSX v10.5.1 and later have application firewalls that provide protection for specific apps; you can read more about those You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
Under some circumstances, your operating systemās firewall can interfere with specific programs. This is an issue with certain multiplayer games and older versions of Apple iTunes, for instance. If you suspect your firewall is fouling up your computing experience, check with the applicable programās developer for troubleshooting tips.
13. Regularly Delete Unwanted Programs
Periodically canvass your system for unwanted programs that arenāt overtly malicious. Experts term such programs ābloatware,ā and they can adversely impact your deviceās performance when allowed to accumulate over time.
To detect bloatware, close as many open applications as you can, then open your operating systemās task manager and see how many applications they actually recognize. Youāll be shocked at how many programs still run in the background, eating up system resources. Though some such programs are essential system processes, many are trivial and can safely be deleted.
You can address some bloatware-related issues by running a free system cleaner like You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. (Donāt bother paying for a system cleaner ā quality varies widely and some sketchy cleaners are actually vehicles for adware and spyware.) For best results, you need to manually uninstall bloatware ā and you need to do it right.
14. Uninstall Programs Completely
Deleting program icons is not the proper way to remove unnecessary programs from your computer. You need to execute a formal uninstall process for every single application you want to get rid of. Tossing things in the Trash or Recycle Bin doesnāt cut it.
Use the applicationās own uninstaller, if one exists. Generally speaking, uninstalling Windows programs is more complicated than uninstalling Mac equivalents, but you should still check with experts on your system to make sure youāre doing things correctly. You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., for instance.
15. Use an External Hard Drive for Backup & Extra File Storage
Your job or hobby might require you to download or create and store large multimedia files. Sure as day follows night, these files will affect your systemās speed and overall performance. But you canāt simply delete them, can you?
Yes and no. You can delete them from your computerās hard drive ā as long as you have another home for them. An external hard drive is your best, and cheapest, bet.
Mooreās Law has been good to the external hard drive market. Drive cost has moved in near-inverse proportion to drive capacity. These days, you can find a You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. for $60 to $70 at major retailers. If it means keeping your $800 PC running strong for another two years, thatās a worthy investment for sure.
16. Run a Full Malware Scan
Anti-malware software (see below) isnāt foolproof. Malware developers and their āwhite hatā nemeses are perennially locked in mortal, globe-spanning struggle for advantage. Novel malware crops up just as fast as white hats neutralize it.
Enter the system-wide malware scan. You should periodically run malware scans, ideally with more frequency than bloatware checks. I wonāt go through all the steps here ā check out PC Worldās comprehensive guide to finding and removing malware from Windows computers You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. (PC World recommends using ššš„š°šš«ššš²ššš¬ to scan your system, but there are other options.)
17. Get Anti-Malware Software (But Choose Carefully)
The best way to protect your computer from malware in the first place is to use a high-quality anti-malware program. This is especially important for PCs, which are more vulnerable to viruses, worms, and other malware.
New laptops and PCs generally come with anti-malware software preinstalled or at least included in the package, but be wary of accepting it at face value. Some anti-malware software may cause more problems than it solves. In 2017, for instance, You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. Moscow-based Kaspersky Labās antivirus products under intense public pressure as concerns mounted that the companyās software could function as a backdoor for covert monitoring and data extraction by the FSB and other Russian intelligence agencies.
Thereās no replacement for due diligence. Refer to an authoritative source for recommendations on the ideal anti-malware program for your specific system and needs: You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. has a good roundup here, for instance. And ššš„š°šš«ššš²ššš¬, recommended by PC World above, isnāt a bad choice for frugal users.
18. Always Be On the Hunt for Program Updates and Patches
Donāt put off updating and patching your system. This routine exercise requires minimal buy-in on your end ā patches and updates generally install themselves when your computer is off or asleep.
One way to make sure you stay on schedule is to shut off your computer regularly. And when your operating system alerts you to a necessary update, donāt keep snoozing it ā just bite the bullet and get it done, even if it interrupts your workflow.
19. Reinstall Your Operating System Periodically
Updates only go so far, and too many layered updates can actually be counterproductive. The most thorough way to clear unwanted files and reset your machineās ābonesā is to reinstall your operating system every so often.
Reinstalling your operating system is a time-consuming affair, but it doesnāt require any advanced technical skills. Microsoft has more about its Windows reinstaller tool You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
Just make sure you reinstall any necessary applications too. Always keep original install media handy, or at least know where to find them.
20. Free Up Space With Cloud Storage Solutions
External hard drives arenāt the last word on backup storage. They have drawbacks:
If youāre looking for a redundant storage solution, consider a secure cloud storage service like Dropbox or Box. Pricing is usually annualized, and your net cost is likely to be higher than an external hard drive ā for instance, You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. costs $99 per year when ĻĆ”Ćd annually. The added convenience might be worth the cost. Just know that cloud storage isnāt ideal for extremely sensitive data, as periodic breaches have made clear.
Final Word
When the time finally does come to rid yourself of an old electronic device, please do so responsibly.
If you live in a city of any significant size, youāre almost certainly served by a public or nonprofit e-waste recycling service licensed to recycle old desktops, laptops, tablets, e-readers, smartphones, and like devices.
In my hometown of You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., a fantastic organization called You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. has rescued tens of thousands of old devices from landfills since its founding ā including about a dozen from my household alone.
Donating broken-down old devices isnāt a purely selfless act. For those eligible to You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., itās a budget-friendly move. My e-waste donations have reduced my tax burden by $300 to $400, with more to come this year. Consult your tax advisor to determine whether itemizing makes sense for you.
Are you using any of these tips to prolong your computerās useful lifespan?
Start with the easy stuff: keeping your deviceās accessories and openings clean.
A dirty keyboard will eventually stop working properly. Ditto for a dirty mouse. A You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. costs roughly $20 new, so replacing yours wonāt ruin you, but that money could absolutely be spent on better things.
To clean your keyboardās more accessible surfaces, use a damp, lint-free cloth. Donāt spray water directly onto the keyboard or allow water to pool anywhere on it ā this will only make things worse. Use the same approach to clean your mouseās accessible surfaces.
To clean harder-to-reach parts of your keyboard and mouse, such as the mouseās optical opening and the spaces underneath the keys, use a You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. You can get one for $5 or $6 online or in your local hardware store.
Donāt neglect laptop and desktop ports and crevices either. Dusty or particle-clogged ports reduce airflow into and out of the device, increasing the risk of overheating. If youāre prone to forgetting small tasks like this, set a recurring calendar reminder every month.
2. Gently Clean Your Monitor
Your monitor might seem solid enough, but itās just as vulnerable to dust and debris as your keyboard and ports. Dust it periodically with a microfiber cloth. Remove tougher stains with You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., which should cost you no more than $6 to $10 per can.
3. Keep Food and Beverages Away From Desktops and Laptops
Repeat after me: Donāt eat or drink over your desktop or laptop!
Easier said than done when youāre working through your lunch break or binge-watching your favorite show with a bowl of ice cream, of course. But think of the consequences: A single spill is enough to destroy a keyboard, and a high-volume dump could penetrate the deviceās casing and wreak havoc on its internal components.
After prematurely KOing two keyboards in rapid succession, I instituted a new rule in my household: nothing but water on the same surface as my laptop. Itās not easy, but so far Iāve managed to hold fast. I highly recommend you do the same.
4. Organize Cords and Other e-Debris
If you have an active You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. setup, it probably features a mess of cords, power strips, and random accessories on the floors and working surfaces.
This mess is unsightly and unwieldy at minimum. If you have small children or pets, it may well present an electrocution risk. Depending on how loaded-up your power strips and outlets are, you could have a fire hazard on your hands. And jumbled cords are more vulnerable to damage, meaning higher long-term ownership costs.
Fixing this is easy. First, buy an extra power strip or two ā you can get a 2-pack of 6-outlet strips for You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. Then, procure some twist-ties (negligible cost) or You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. ($6 to $14, depending on the type) to hold everything together in intentional fashion. Unplug, detangle, and reorient your cords in your handy new organization system. Then plug everything back in. Thatās it.
Pro Tip: Seeking more home office hƤƧks? Check out our post on the You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., then check with your tax advisor to determine whether you qualify.
5. Donāt Overcharge Your Batteries
Resist the temptation to keep your portable devices plugged in at all times. Not only is this a needless drain on your local power grid, which means preventable bloat for your utility bill, but itās also actively bad for your devicesā batteries.
Unnecessary charging actually retards batteriesā regenerative capabilities. A year or so on, or maybe sooner, youāll notice a drop-off in your deviceās ability to hold a charge. Itāll eventually worsen to the point that youāll need to have your charging cord handy ā meaning you wonāt be able to work or play online without an outlet nearby.
Donāt charge until your device is good and ready. I wait until my laptop gets down below 20%, for instance.
6. Donāt Block the Vents
Like people, desktop and laptop computers need to breathe.
The operative rule here is ādonāt block the vents.ā Just like people, machines need to breathe ā though, in their case, itās to ensure their insides remain cool enough to function properly.
If you have a desktop, keep the tower clear of any obstructions, like cabinets or walls. If itās possible to do so securely, elevate it to ensure good airflow on both sides. For laptops, maintain a clear workspace free from clutter that could obstruct airflow ā for instance, papers or books. Periodically check that the fans are working as well.
No matter what kind of device you have, maintain adequate ventilation and reasonable climate control. You donāt have to blast the AC or leave the windows open in the winter, but setting the thermostat to 80 probably isnāt a great idea either.
7. Have Desiccant on Hand
You dropped your phone in the toilet. Oops! Whatās your next move?
With little hesitation, most people confidently answer: āPut it in a jar of rice!ā
Thatās not the worst thing you could do for your waterlogged phone, but itās not the ideal fix either. Rice is merely the best desiccant, or drying agent, that most people have lying around the home. Itās not made for clearing water from sensitive devices ā itās made for eating.
As it turns out, there are products made specifically to mop moisture out of electronics. Theyāre commonly known as desiccant bags, and theyāre cheap ā You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., each more than sufficient to dry out a waterlogged phone.
An even cheaper alternative: the little silica gel bags that come in many shipping boxes. Rather than throwing them out, collect them as they come in, taking care to store them somewhere child- and pet-proof. Youāll need several to dry out a dripping phone.
8. Keep Magnets Away
Keep your home office ā and your devices themselves ā away from magnets, even the weak refrigerator kinds. Your hard drive is incredibly sensitive to magnetic fields of any strength.
If you need to remember websites or phone numbers, use Post-it notes or digital files instead. Keep magnets where they belong ā in the kitchen.
9. Be Careful With Unfamiliar WiFi Networks
Be wary of unsecured WiFi networks in coffee shops, airports, hotel lobbies, and other public places. Without basic network security, your computer is a sitting duck ā out there in the open for any hƤƧker or cyber criminal who feels like sending a malware package your way. When in doubt, use a virtual private network (VPN) to encrypt your connection and repel attacks.
Pro Tip: If youāre not sure youāre doing enough to safeguard your computer ā or the personal information stored within ā check out our roundup of tips to protect your privacy online.
10. Get a Phone Case and Screen Protector
I have a confession to make: Iāve never cracked a phone screen. Whether thatās down to luck, exceptional care, or a mixture of the two, Iām not sure.
Iām probably in the minority on this one. My wife cracked her last three screens, all under relatively mundane circumstances. Phones are resilient, but not indestructible. Drop them the wrong way and youāll be living with the consequences.
The choice between purchasing a brand new phone or buying a protective enclosure to deflect kinetic energy is no choice at all. Quality cases cost You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., and cheaper still at discount websites and on the secondary market.
Ditto for You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. Theyāre even cheaper ā as little as $5 to $6 apiece, depending on screen size and width. While they wonāt protect against violent impacts, theyāll resist scratching indefinitely under normal circumstances.
Software and System Maintenance Tips
These tips cover devicesā hardware components, operating systems, memory, software, and vulnerability to external threats.
11. Shut It Down Properly Every Night
Bake this into your nightly routine. It only takes a minute each day, and it could prolong your devicesā life for months or years. Itās especially important for Windows machines, since Microsoft only patches systems in shutdown mode.
Also, how you shut down matters. Avoid ācold bootingā your machine: holding down the power button until the system shuts itself off. Thatās for emergencies only ā otherwise, it just stresses your hardware and software. Take the extra minute or two to shut down the machine properly, using your operating systemās shutdown button.
Itās your call whether you want to apply this tip to your mobile devices. I personally only shut down my smartphone for updates, since I like to be available for emergency calls and alerts through the night.
12. Always Have Your Firewall Running
Your operating systemās firewall is your deviceās first line of defense against malware. With rare exceptions, it should always be up and running.
This is especially important when youāre installing new programs, and doubly so when youāve downloaded the program files from a source other than the developer or manufacturer. (Generally, you should avoid downloading any files from an unverified source.)
Turning on your firewall is easy. If you have a PC desktop or laptop, read Microsoftās primer You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. Mac OSX v10.5.1 and later have application firewalls that provide protection for specific apps; you can read more about those You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
Under some circumstances, your operating systemās firewall can interfere with specific programs. This is an issue with certain multiplayer games and older versions of Apple iTunes, for instance. If you suspect your firewall is fouling up your computing experience, check with the applicable programās developer for troubleshooting tips.
13. Regularly Delete Unwanted Programs
Periodically canvass your system for unwanted programs that arenāt overtly malicious. Experts term such programs ābloatware,ā and they can adversely impact your deviceās performance when allowed to accumulate over time.
To detect bloatware, close as many open applications as you can, then open your operating systemās task manager and see how many applications they actually recognize. Youāll be shocked at how many programs still run in the background, eating up system resources. Though some such programs are essential system processes, many are trivial and can safely be deleted.
You can address some bloatware-related issues by running a free system cleaner like You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. (Donāt bother paying for a system cleaner ā quality varies widely and some sketchy cleaners are actually vehicles for adware and spyware.) For best results, you need to manually uninstall bloatware ā and you need to do it right.
14. Uninstall Programs Completely
Deleting program icons is not the proper way to remove unnecessary programs from your computer. You need to execute a formal uninstall process for every single application you want to get rid of. Tossing things in the Trash or Recycle Bin doesnāt cut it.
Use the applicationās own uninstaller, if one exists. Generally speaking, uninstalling Windows programs is more complicated than uninstalling Mac equivalents, but you should still check with experts on your system to make sure youāre doing things correctly. You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., for instance.
15. Use an External Hard Drive for Backup & Extra File Storage
Your job or hobby might require you to download or create and store large multimedia files. Sure as day follows night, these files will affect your systemās speed and overall performance. But you canāt simply delete them, can you?
Yes and no. You can delete them from your computerās hard drive ā as long as you have another home for them. An external hard drive is your best, and cheapest, bet.
Mooreās Law has been good to the external hard drive market. Drive cost has moved in near-inverse proportion to drive capacity. These days, you can find a You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. for $60 to $70 at major retailers. If it means keeping your $800 PC running strong for another two years, thatās a worthy investment for sure.
16. Run a Full Malware Scan
Anti-malware software (see below) isnāt foolproof. Malware developers and their āwhite hatā nemeses are perennially locked in mortal, globe-spanning struggle for advantage. Novel malware crops up just as fast as white hats neutralize it.
Enter the system-wide malware scan. You should periodically run malware scans, ideally with more frequency than bloatware checks. I wonāt go through all the steps here ā check out PC Worldās comprehensive guide to finding and removing malware from Windows computers You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. (PC World recommends using ššš„š°šš«ššš²ššš¬ to scan your system, but there are other options.)
17. Get Anti-Malware Software (But Choose Carefully)
The best way to protect your computer from malware in the first place is to use a high-quality anti-malware program. This is especially important for PCs, which are more vulnerable to viruses, worms, and other malware.
New laptops and PCs generally come with anti-malware software preinstalled or at least included in the package, but be wary of accepting it at face value. Some anti-malware software may cause more problems than it solves. In 2017, for instance, You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. Moscow-based Kaspersky Labās antivirus products under intense public pressure as concerns mounted that the companyās software could function as a backdoor for covert monitoring and data extraction by the FSB and other Russian intelligence agencies.
Thereās no replacement for due diligence. Refer to an authoritative source for recommendations on the ideal anti-malware program for your specific system and needs: You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. has a good roundup here, for instance. And ššš„š°šš«ššš²ššš¬, recommended by PC World above, isnāt a bad choice for frugal users.
18. Always Be On the Hunt for Program Updates and Patches
Donāt put off updating and patching your system. This routine exercise requires minimal buy-in on your end ā patches and updates generally install themselves when your computer is off or asleep.
One way to make sure you stay on schedule is to shut off your computer regularly. And when your operating system alerts you to a necessary update, donāt keep snoozing it ā just bite the bullet and get it done, even if it interrupts your workflow.
19. Reinstall Your Operating System Periodically
Updates only go so far, and too many layered updates can actually be counterproductive. The most thorough way to clear unwanted files and reset your machineās ābonesā is to reinstall your operating system every so often.
Reinstalling your operating system is a time-consuming affair, but it doesnāt require any advanced technical skills. Microsoft has more about its Windows reinstaller tool You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
Just make sure you reinstall any necessary applications too. Always keep original install media handy, or at least know where to find them.
20. Free Up Space With Cloud Storage Solutions
External hard drives arenāt the last word on backup storage. They have drawbacks:
- Theyāre easy to misplace
- They can fall into the wrong hands
- They have finite capacity
- They have to be present to be useful
If youāre looking for a redundant storage solution, consider a secure cloud storage service like Dropbox or Box. Pricing is usually annualized, and your net cost is likely to be higher than an external hard drive ā for instance, You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. costs $99 per year when ĻĆ”Ćd annually. The added convenience might be worth the cost. Just know that cloud storage isnāt ideal for extremely sensitive data, as periodic breaches have made clear.
Final Word
When the time finally does come to rid yourself of an old electronic device, please do so responsibly.
If you live in a city of any significant size, youāre almost certainly served by a public or nonprofit e-waste recycling service licensed to recycle old desktops, laptops, tablets, e-readers, smartphones, and like devices.
In my hometown of You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., a fantastic organization called You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. has rescued tens of thousands of old devices from landfills since its founding ā including about a dozen from my household alone.
Donating broken-down old devices isnāt a purely selfless act. For those eligible to You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., itās a budget-friendly move. My e-waste donations have reduced my tax burden by $300 to $400, with more to come this year. Consult your tax advisor to determine whether itemizing makes sense for you.
Are you using any of these tips to prolong your computerās useful lifespan?
