If you've got a computer, you know that you need to maintain and clean it regularly to keep it running smoothly. Unfortunately, sometimes, people are afraid to do just that because they're afraid they're going to damage their computers. You should not be afraid, though, because most of these basic programs won't harm your machine as long as you don't interrupt what they're doing. If you do interrupt them, though, be careful; that can be a good way to damage your computer.
But the main question on your mind is "Will scanning my registry with a program cause any harm to my machine?" Let's answer this to set your mind at ease.
Most of today's registry fix or registry software programs are designed to be very careful with your machine. Companies know that these machines maintain a very delicate balance, and they have to do things right or they could be in trouble with their customers. Some third party programs do allow you to completely access your registry, but that's only for people who are absolutely professional and know what they're doing. Don't do this, then, if you don't have the computer skills to support "opening up" your computer registry in this way.
However, a common usage program is not going to damage your computer. It's not going to go that deep and if it were going to, you would have to modify it to some extent. Most people aren't that computer savvy and they don't want to do that anyway.
You do have to make sure that you don't download the wrong program, though. The registry software program you download should be user friendly; if it's not, be careful. Some developers out there simply want your money and will leave you holding the bag after they have pocketed it. So before you download, install or run anything, do your homework.
Perhaps the biggest registry software threat doesn't come from a poorly designed program, though. Instead, it comes from a piece of software that's perfectly legitimate but out of date. A lot of people pick these up because they've used them on older computers and they worked just fine. However, a registry fix program that works on Windows 98 is not going to work for today's later systems. They're simply two different types of machines.
Even if you download registry software programs from entirely reputable sources, they could be harmful if they are over several years old. In general, it can cause some negative effects, and make your entire system unstable. That's because as operating systems have changed, they have also become more advanced. As they become more advanced, changes in registry operation have also occurred, which older programs simply can't work with.
Most of today's registry cleaners are up-to-date and readily available. Manufacturers work to make them easy to use and safe for the computer, so that there are no problems. If they are successful at this, they get happy customers, and happy customers give manufacturers repeat business.
So stick to reputable, high rated programs. One of these, Registry Easy, is among them. These types of registry fix programs can keep your computer running smoothly. It's also very safe to use so that you don't have to worry about damaging your system.
About the Author
Peter Allan has been an IT professional for over 15 years and has used registry fix software to help his clients with computer performance problems and errors. Click on this link to download your registry software free trial.
Thursday, 26 November 2009
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
What Does a Computer Firewall Do?
This articles purpose is to give non technical users a brief overview of the benefits and limitations of firewalls. It covers networks related to businesses and home users. It is presented in very simple terms so the average user will have no problem comprehending it. After reading this the average user will understand most basic functions and forms of a firewall.
Computer firewalls come in both hardware and software forms. They are mainly meant to protect a small network from outside access like the internet. While both forms do the same thing technically, they both have their pros and cons. Hardware firewalls are physical units that you plug your network into, and software firewalls are programs that run on your PC.
Most users will recognize the physical firewall as the router that their connections run through. Internet service providers will often offer these as bundles, or at discount rates to help you set up your network. Software firewalls are often bundled with other protection programs for the best protection. They can also be built into your operating system.
Not all firewalls are created equal however. Some are very secure due to their advanced features, while others are basic versions with low level security. Hardware firewalls such as routers that are bought or provided to you, will have a default setting to block all incoming but allow all outgoing traffic. This is still a security risk and needs to be addressed.
This is not as secure as it might seem, as if some malware gets in to a computer, via email for example, there is nothing to stop the malware from communicating out of the network and uploading anything it is programmed to do so, like passwords and credit card details, or it can download anything on to your computer completely undetected, more malware for example. This is all possible because the firewall is not configured to block any outbound communication. It is important to realise that a firewall is not the security panacea some believe it to be.
Hardware firewalls are also affectionately referred to as dumb firewalls in the industry. This is because the lack the intelligence or analytical capabilities to scan what traffic comes through them. Whatever you tell it to allow, it will allow, if there is malware in the mix it will get through. This type of firewall is very user input dependant.
Software firewalls installed on a computer are generally more intelligent, as they can detect what type of traffic is being passed and can alert the user to this activity. This is because they are normally part of an antivirus firewall software product and can determine that the code is harmful. This why people choose to buy antivirus firewall software as it gives you far more control over what enters your computer system.
Most firewalls bundled with your operating system work on the same method as the hardware firewall. Meaning they allow all outgoing but no incoming traffic. This still leaves you vulnerable and you should not rely on this for long term protection. It's usually advisable to get a software firewall just to be safe.
Understanding what a firewall does and does not do will help you assess your computer security needs and a firewall is only a part of a system required to protect your computer data from hackers and viruses.
About the Author
If you are looking for excellent antivirus firewall software at a great price visit the authors site about firewall software. Peter Allan has been consulting to small business for over 15 years and recommends the best software available.
Computer firewalls come in both hardware and software forms. They are mainly meant to protect a small network from outside access like the internet. While both forms do the same thing technically, they both have their pros and cons. Hardware firewalls are physical units that you plug your network into, and software firewalls are programs that run on your PC.
Most users will recognize the physical firewall as the router that their connections run through. Internet service providers will often offer these as bundles, or at discount rates to help you set up your network. Software firewalls are often bundled with other protection programs for the best protection. They can also be built into your operating system.
Not all firewalls are created equal however. Some are very secure due to their advanced features, while others are basic versions with low level security. Hardware firewalls such as routers that are bought or provided to you, will have a default setting to block all incoming but allow all outgoing traffic. This is still a security risk and needs to be addressed.
This is not as secure as it might seem, as if some malware gets in to a computer, via email for example, there is nothing to stop the malware from communicating out of the network and uploading anything it is programmed to do so, like passwords and credit card details, or it can download anything on to your computer completely undetected, more malware for example. This is all possible because the firewall is not configured to block any outbound communication. It is important to realise that a firewall is not the security panacea some believe it to be.
Hardware firewalls are also affectionately referred to as dumb firewalls in the industry. This is because the lack the intelligence or analytical capabilities to scan what traffic comes through them. Whatever you tell it to allow, it will allow, if there is malware in the mix it will get through. This type of firewall is very user input dependant.
Software firewalls installed on a computer are generally more intelligent, as they can detect what type of traffic is being passed and can alert the user to this activity. This is because they are normally part of an antivirus firewall software product and can determine that the code is harmful. This why people choose to buy antivirus firewall software as it gives you far more control over what enters your computer system.
Most firewalls bundled with your operating system work on the same method as the hardware firewall. Meaning they allow all outgoing but no incoming traffic. This still leaves you vulnerable and you should not rely on this for long term protection. It's usually advisable to get a software firewall just to be safe.
Understanding what a firewall does and does not do will help you assess your computer security needs and a firewall is only a part of a system required to protect your computer data from hackers and viruses.
About the Author
If you are looking for excellent antivirus firewall software at a great price visit the authors site about firewall software. Peter Allan has been consulting to small business for over 15 years and recommends the best software available.
Fix Your Slow Computer with Registry Fix Software
If you're like the majority of people, when your computer starts acting up, you just want a quick, and preferably cheap, way of fixing your computer. However, as PCs are extremely complicated, there are a number of errors that can manifest themselves -- sometimes it's difficult for a computer novice to diagnose the root cause of their computer's problem.
However, if you are experiencing application lag, programs freezing up, error messages, or intermittent system instability, there's a good chance that a registry fixer may be able to repair at least some of your computer's existing problems.
Registry fix software also known as registry cleaners, can improve your PCs performance by doing a number of things. Registry cleaner software does more than just optimizing your PCs performance; it will fix numerous errors as well.
Over time your computer will create entries in the registry and some of these entries will become redundant and this invalid data can cause problems with your computer. These problems can range from pop up errors, programs not loading and even sudden restarts, all these could be caused by the registry containing invalid data.
A registry cleaner program, at least with professional software, will remove invalid information from your computer's registry. If your particular problem is registry-related, a one-time clean by a good registry cleaning program will restore functionality to the problematic programs and help to keep your computer running smoothly.
Now, depending on how you use your computer, using a registry cleaner on a semi-regular basis is a recommended part of your PC's maintenance anyway. However, it is also a good option if you're experiencing any of the issues that we've outlined above.
Registry fixers won't repair all computer problems, but it is a good starting point as they are inexpensive compared to your other options.
About the Author
To find out more about registry fix software and for a free trial scan of registry fix software click on the link. Peter Allan has been consulting in the IT industry for over 15 years.
However, if you are experiencing application lag, programs freezing up, error messages, or intermittent system instability, there's a good chance that a registry fixer may be able to repair at least some of your computer's existing problems.
Registry fix software also known as registry cleaners, can improve your PCs performance by doing a number of things. Registry cleaner software does more than just optimizing your PCs performance; it will fix numerous errors as well.
Over time your computer will create entries in the registry and some of these entries will become redundant and this invalid data can cause problems with your computer. These problems can range from pop up errors, programs not loading and even sudden restarts, all these could be caused by the registry containing invalid data.
A registry cleaner program, at least with professional software, will remove invalid information from your computer's registry. If your particular problem is registry-related, a one-time clean by a good registry cleaning program will restore functionality to the problematic programs and help to keep your computer running smoothly.
Now, depending on how you use your computer, using a registry cleaner on a semi-regular basis is a recommended part of your PC's maintenance anyway. However, it is also a good option if you're experiencing any of the issues that we've outlined above.
Registry fixers won't repair all computer problems, but it is a good starting point as they are inexpensive compared to your other options.
About the Author
To find out more about registry fix software and for a free trial scan of registry fix software click on the link. Peter Allan has been consulting in the IT industry for over 15 years.
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