CompuClever Blog

Virus vs. PUP and how to remove both

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We are going to tread carefully and examine two areas of PC ailments. We will strive to make this more understandable and to provide effective and free solutions for both.  If you look at how Microsoft deals with these categories you will find that they admit these two areas are not mutually exclusive and certain terms are used interchangeably.  For our purposes we want to be more definite so that we can pinpoint what steps you need to take in order to deal with these items if you are or ever have experienced them.  This article also assists you in preventing them from happening, provides free tools, and outlines the steps to get rid of both types.

How could a PUP be unwanted?  Well, in this case, we are not referring to a fluffy, playful dog or even Power Pup the Office Assistant.  We’re referring to a term that is increasingly being used to describe Potentially Unwanted Programs.  We are likely all too familiar with a virus infection; your PC becomes infected when opening something such as an email attachment or having something downloaded without your consent when visiting an infected website – even ones that are considered legitimate can be sabotaged.  Continue reading...

Improve Startup

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Why settle for a computer that is slow?  Maybe we come to expect that our PC is just not as fast as it used to be – but why?  There are a number of reasons why you are getting poor performance.  We are going to narrow it down in this article to one area of concern: Startup time.  Typically, we download applications and they will by default run when you start your system.  Do you need these to be running every time you start the computer?  It is not likely.  There is no advantage to having them run prior to when you need them and software programs are designed to start very quickly on demand.  Software programs are designed to start very quickly.  So let’s use your available tools to trim this list of startup items.  If there is still an issue with performance we can try out a few other available tools.

Even Microsoft makes the point:

No matter how fast or shiny computers might be when they’re new, they all seem to get slower over time. That state-of-the-art PC you bought last year might not feel like such a screamer after you install a dozen programs, load it with antispyware and antivirus tools, and download untold amounts of junk from the Internet.
Continue reading...

Cookie Time

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There is one type of cookie that the Cookie Monster would not find appealing – computer cookies. But what are they and what are we to do with them? We are going to expand on what is known as “web” or “browser” cookies that are stored on your PC as a result of online browsing. The benefit to keeping these on your system is minor and they can be used in ways we do not wish. As a result, we pass on instructions on how to safely get rid of them.

This article begins with information about cookies: what they are and what we recommend you do about them.  We will also be covering information related to using PC Clean Maestro.  In this way you are more informed about remaining secure and keeping your information private.

Cookie!

A cookie is a file that is sent from a website when you browse to that site.  Every time you visit the same site the Internet browser sends the cookie from your PC to a server to notify the website of the user’s previous activity.  In this way it is easier to login in to some sites that you have previously visited because your name is already present so you only have to add in your password.  Continue reading...

Tech Support Fraud

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Have you ever played that “Whac-A-Mole” game?  It’s the one where moles pop up out of a hole and you bonk them on the head and down they go.  It doesn’t matter how many you bop on the head – they keep popping up.  That’s pretty much how it is with fraudulent phone call scams.  There have been some fines handed out to companies and individuals engaged in these scam activities, but they still keep popping up again and again.  If you have ever had one of these phone calls you would agree – the callers are convincing. 

We’re going to start off with a description of how this scam works followed by legal action taken against the scammers, and recent activity.  Following this we will offer advice in terms of what to do when getting called and what to do if you or someone you know has already had a call and been the victim of technical support fraud.

Description

A tech support scam involves a variety of “confidence tricks” that include part-truths, outright lies, and some aggressive sales pitches.  It typically involves someone calling you on the phone and posing as a computer support technician, quite often, from a well-known and reputable company.  Continue reading...

Facebook Uncovered

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There is a real and strong allure to joining the crowd on Facebook. Its popularity and set of features makes email look like VHS in comparison to DVD. But… make no mistake – this is a sticky subject. There are many criticisms that have surfaced and we will attempt to sort through these. In doing so, we will avoid getting caught up with information overload.  Ultimately each person has to weigh out the pros and cons to make a decision for themselves.

We’re going to start off with a brief description of the history of Facebook and its popularity.  From there we present a like and dislike feature set – thumbs up and thumbs down.  After that we will offer some general recommendations and alternatives.

First Look

On February 2004, Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook with his college roommates and fellow students at Harvard University.   At first it was limited to Harvard students, but expanded to include colleges in the Boston area and then gradually it included support for students at various other universities before being open to high-school students and then anyone aged 13 and over. When registering for a Facebook account, the user needs to claim being 13 years or older although proof of age is not a requirement.  Continue reading...