Less Stress and More Success
By Katherine Vargo

Stop cursing your computer. End your frustration with these top computer solutions. You are just four steps away from being more productive and having fewer headaches.

Step 1: Install an anti-virus program and use it.
A virus can result in lost  data or require costly repairs to your systems.  You can avoid these risks by installing and using  software that scans your computer for viruses. Look for antivirus software that is updated automatically and can effectively reverse the  damage of viruses.  If you have anti-virus software already installed, make sure that it updates daily.  It doesn't help to have anti-virus software installed, if it doesn't have the latest virus information.  New virus are written every day. Yes, every day. Unless your computer is powered on and connected to the Internet during the automatically scheduled updates, you are missing out.

Step 2: Remove spyware.
Spyware applications are typically bundled with freeware or shareware programs. Once installed, the spyware monitors user activity and transmits that information in the background to someone who  will either use it for advertising/marketing purposes or sell the information to a third party.  Beside invading your privacy, spyware  can lead to system crashes or general  slowness because spyware runs in the background and uses system memory and resources. Getting rid of spyware will also help stop those terribly annoying pop-ups. For Windows, Spybot Search and Destroy is a great program for scanning and removing spyware programs.

Step 3: Enable Automatic updates.
It is important to keep your computer current with the latest patches. This helps prevent nasty things like worms and viruses from disrupting your computer or deleting data.  Newer operating systems enable you to download security updates automatically and receive prompt security changes. One more thing you don't have to worry about. To configure automatic updates for Windows XP:
1) Select Start> Control Panel
2) Select Performance and Maintenance, scroll to the bottom and select System
3) Select the Automatic Updates tab
4) Select the button for "Automatically download the updates, and install them on the schedule I  specify." Select the day and time preference that you desire.
To configure automatic updates for Mac OS X:
1) Select Apple Menu > System Preference
2) Double-click the Software Update icon
3) From the Update Software tab, select the check box for "Automatically check for updates"
4) Click Check Now.
If you are using an older Microsoft operating system, you can get the latest updates at windowsupdate.microsoft.com. The website will determine which patches are required for your system.