Clean Up Checklist
Do you keep getting pop-ups? Is your computer running a little
slower than usual? Fear not! Below are some steps to follow
before throwing in the towel and taking it to the UF
HelpDesk
If you have a virus, these steps may not be the correct way to
get rid of it. Infected computers sometimes require the
computer to be rebuilt, otherwise the virus may remain on your
computer undetected. The steps below are to help rid your
computer of malware and maximize its efficiency; they are not
exhaustive.
For Windows Users-
Step 1: Back It Up Baby!
Before altering programs on your computer we always recommend
backing up your computer to save its programs, files and
settings.
On XP you can do this by using the Backup or Restore
Wizard. Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > Systems
Tools > Backup. Follow the prompts.
Step 2: Download Anti-Spyware Programs
Spyware and Malware are malicious programs that download themselves onto
your computer just by entering a website. They can do simple things as
keep track of your online buying habits to logging every keystroke
you make.
We recommend more than just one anti-spyware program since
there's not just one
that can detect every bit of malware. It's important that you install
anti-malware programs from a trusted source. Visit
our
Free Anti
Spyware Tools page for links to anti-spyware downloads.
Once you download and install your anti-spyware programs, update
and run the scanner on all of them by following the prompts.
This can take awhile, so feel free to leave it running. Once
each program has completed running, remove any suspicious or
critical objects.
Repeat step 1 every now and then to stay updated with anti-spyware
definitions.
Step 3: Update Your Operating Sytem
Internet Explorer has a history of security problems that
allowed malware to infect computers.
Visit
Microsoft's update site at:
windowsupdate.microsoft.com using
Internet Explorer (since you can't access this page using any other
browser).
First check to see if your
automatic updates is turned ON by looking at the top left corner
of the page. If it is, great job! Keep it that way.
If automatic updates is OFF, then follow the prompts to run the
updates and turn it ON when it prompts you to. We recommend
that you schedule to run it daily or weekly and at a time when
you're least likely to use your computer, such as 3am, since
this process can take awhile.
Step 4: Use a Browser Other than Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer gives websites more control over what the
users sees thus making it more prone to being infected with
malicious code. There are a number of free browsers out there,
we recommend Firefox.
Download
Firefox Here
During the install prompts, it will ask you if you would like
Firefox to be the default web browser, click YES.
Users can also import all the
bookmarks from IE into Firefox so settings aren't lost.
The last step is to remove the blue Internet Explorer from your
desktop so as not to be tempted to us it.
Step 5: Install a Firewall
A firewall is a program that monitors and restricts traffic
which flows between your computer and the Internet. Computers
without a running firewall can be hacked within minutes, so it's
important to have one. More details about a firewall, and a list
of free firewalls can be found at our firewall
page.
Microsoft offers a firewall with its XP operating system. To
turn it ON, go to Control Panel > Security Center > Windows
Firewall > turn to ON. Fore more information on your Windows
Firewall, visit
the Microsoft "Understanding Windows Firewall" link
Step 6: Stop Unused Programs from Running
Upon starting your machine, many programs automatically turn on
and run in the background causing your computer to run slower.
To stop these programs from running access your System
Configuration Utility by opening your Run menu from the Start
tab, type MSCONFIG and hit Enter. Click the Startup tab and
uncheck any programs that shouldn't be running all the time.
Most of these programs are important and unidentifiable, so when
in doubt leave it checked.
Here is one user's How to use
MSCONFIG page for more information.
Step 7: Defrag Your Hard Drive
Files are saved to the computer's hard drive in a fragmented way
meaning that they are spread out over the computer's memory in
an inefficient manner. Over time this causes the computer to
take longer to search for the files it needs. Microsoft allows
you to defragment its hard drive. Defragmenting your hard drive is not
related to malware, but will help speed up your computer.
We recommend closing all programs and disconnecting from the
Internet before scanning and defraging your hard drive. Also,
since this process takes a long time you might want to start it
before bed.
To start your disk cleanup, go to My Computer, right-click on
your hard drive (usually C: drive) and click Properties. Run
the Disk Cleanup button first. Then click the Tools tab and
click Defragment Now.
