Stages

We have come up with a list of items that we feel constitute the “necessities” of first running you brand new PC. In an attempt to make it easier for you we have broken these items into stages – that way it doesn’t seem overwhelming and tedious. We have also included an approximate time of completion. These may vary based on many factors but it is intended to give you an idea of what to expect. By having this information available you can determine how many items you can take on based on your schedule. If you want to bite the bullet and complete the tasks on the same day… go for it!

Let’s get started.

Stage1

Warranty and Registration Cards (Time to Complete: Approximately 5 minutes)
Fill warranty and registration cards in right away. Required information such as serial numbers can usually be found on the back of printers and computers. So before you connect the cables and set the device into its location, get the information written down while it is still easy to read. Once the system is up and running, you can then send in the cards to be registered. While most retailers will act on your behalf for warranty concerns if the store closes its doors, the computer maker will require that you provide proof that it is their device and it was purchased within the warranty period. Save yourself the frustration and do this early.

Restore Disks (Time to Complete: No more than 10 minutes)
Your new system most likely comes with Windows 10 preinstalled. That’s great – that saves some work! You need to realize though this likely means you do not have CD’s to reinstall Windows if the need arises. So, to be on the safe side, you will need to create restore disks. Use this Microsoft link and follow the directions.

Windows Live Account (Time to Complete: 2 – 3 minutes)
When you first start your computer, Windows will ask you to either sign on to your Windows Live email account or to create an account with Microsoft. This is not necessary but it does add some functions to using Windows across multiple units such as those between your desktop, laptop, tablet, or Windows phone. If you do not have any of these other items, ignore the offer to create an account. If you have logon credentials with MSN or Outlook.com then that login is your Windows account. For more information follow this Microsoft FAQ link.

Set the System Restore (Time to Complete: 2 – 3 minutes)
System Restore, by default, is not enabled. You need to set this up to keep the system as safe as possible. Information on how to enable the system restore can be found by following this Microsoft link.

Backup Admin Account (Time to Complete: 5 – 10 minutes)
Create a Backup Admin account. Many problems can arise should you have one admin account and it gets damaged. If you create a backup admin account you can simply work around the issue rather than working through hours of trying to undo whatever created the issue. Save yourself the time and unpleasantness by setting up a second one right away.

You can use this helpful site with easy to use instructions.

Stage 2

Beware Freeware (Time to Complete: Up to 30 minutes)
Check the “All Programs” list in PC Clean Maestro. Open the program, click the Uninstaller tab and review the items in the list provided. Many new systems include a list of freeware and trialware programs.

If you have already purchased an antivirus program and are going to install it, do not leave a free antivirus on the system as you could experience interference and compatibility issues. Stay with the programs you know and save yourself the frustration of programs popping up on the screen.

Remove Remnants (Time to Complete: Up to 3 minutes)
After installing your programs remember to clear up the install remnants so the drive is clear of unwanted files. Open PC Clean Maestro and from the “Clean” page, confirm that the items you want to scan and clean are checked. Next, click the Start button. The scan will be quick and you can easily review items before removing them. It will take more time to review the findings then to scan or clean them.

Registry Scan and Fix (Time to Complete: Up to 3 minutes)
Now that you have removed unnecessary and unwanted files, it’s time to clear the registry as there may be remnants that have not been removed. To scan and clean your registry open PC TuneUp Maestro and click the “Optimize PC” page in the left panel. Click the Registry Defrag option and perform the Express Scan.

HD Defrag (Time to Complete: Up to 30 minutes)
After removing items from your computer it’s time to address sorting – defragmenting – the hard drive for best performance.

If your new PC uses the traditional spinning platter hard drive (HDD), we recommend using good PC habits right from the start and defragmenting it. Good practice is to defrag your HD when you remove items of significant size (applications, media files, etc.). To defrag your drive, Open PC TuneUp Maestro and click the “Optimize PC” page in the left panel. Click the Disk Defrag option at the top of the list and follow the instructions.

Stage 3

Power Bar (Time to Complete: Varies)
Is the light on the power bar flashing or flickering? If so… replace it. This is the least expensive insurance policy you can buy for your new computer. That flashing or flickering light means it needs to be replaced.

Windows Updates (Time to Complete: 10 – 30 minutes)
Check for updates from Windows. Windows 10 supplies driver updates for all your devices (video cards, printers, etc.), so it is possible that when Windows was installed the devices were not connected. To be certain everything has the correct drivers you need to run an update: use this Microsoft site for details. Please note Windows 10 could start performing updates before you choose to do so. If it does let the process complete itself as trying to stop it could lead to Windows having problems before you get to use your computer.

Conclusions:

Now that you have completed the steps – there is no reason why your PC shouldn’t be performing at top speeds. You should notice fast startup times as well as exceptional file access and program startup performance. We hope this article has helped you to feel less intimidated with your new and somewhat unfamiliar PC acquisition. Taking the right steps right from the get go is critical and we think these tips will support you well in that regard.

Feel free to visit our Support Center at: https://www.compuclever.com/support/ If you have some ideas of topics you would like us to cover or have other feedback to offer, email us at: newsletter@compuclever.com

The post My New PC Arrival appeared first on CompuClever.

[Update] As of July 30th 2015, CompuClever and Malwarebytes has successfully resolved the false positive categorization of both PCTuneUpMaestro and PCCleanMaestro. Existing or new users can download, install, and use both applications coexisting with Malwarebytes.

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Victoria, British Columbia – Since early June 2015, two of CompuClever’s products: PCTuneUpMaestro and PCCleanMaestro have been mistakenly categorized by Malwarebytes as Potentially Unwanted Programs (P.U.P).  The false categorization made by MalwareBytes has affected a small percentage of CompuClever users who also happen to be active Malwarebytes users. Under default settings, Malwarebytes quarantines these programs, rendering them unusable and even uninstallable.

CompuClever is a Microsoft Application Development Partner and an Intel Elite Software Partner. Both PCTuneUpMaestro and PCCleanMaestro were certified through the Microsoft Windows 8 Logo certification process, which means they are completely safe to install and use. Enjoyed by over five million users globally, PCTuneUpMaestro and PCCleanMaestro together provide an advanced suite of PC cleaning, optimization, and maintenance tools that are simple to use yet effective in delivering results.  Being a member of both Microsoft and Intel Partnership programs, CompuClever also strictly adheres to commonly accepted software marketing practices set by regulatory bodies like Google, FTC, and Microsoft/Bing.

CompuClever has been actively engaging Malwarebytes legal and adjudication team with full attention and sincerity in order to discover a viable path that leads to the complete removal of this categorization. We respect Malwarebytes determination to play an active role in regulating the online advertising space by combating those who distribute PUP’s. Nevertheless, we also call upon Malwarebytes adjudication team to examine applications with depth of research and objectivity.

“It is to the common interest of our mutual users of CompuClever and Malwarebytes, that this miscategorization is resolved in a timely and professional fashion”, says Andy Thompson, Communications Director and Editor-in-Chief at CompuClever.

Meanwhile for those CompuClever users who are affected by Malwarebytes’ miscategorization, CompuClever has provided a written procedure instructing users how to restore these two products.

Striving to resolve this issue with full attention and urgency, CompuClever appreciates its users’ ongoing support and patience with this matter. Users who require assistance are encouraged to contact CompuClever support team via support[at]compuclever.com.

About CompuClever

Founded in 2010, CompuClever’s mission is to provide PC users with a safe and enjoyable computing experience.  CompuClever offers products and services, powered by knowledge, know-how and expertise, aimed at enhancing computer safety, performance, and stability. CompuClever software products are designed from the ground up to provide powerful utility and optimization software that can be used quickly and effectively, even by novice computer users.

The post Malwarebytes Mistakenly Flags and Disables CompuClever Applications appeared first on CompuClever.

Add-ons

Picking up software add-ons means modifications get made to your web browser such as extra toolbars and popup windows.  Many of these items simply want to stake their territory maybe for the purpose of directing you to certain websites so you can make some purchase.

Bog Down

It is the web browser specifically that gets bogged down in these situations as it contains too many unnecessary add-ons.  You will find that it isn’t as responsive as it should be as it gets pulled in different directions.  Being sabotaged takes a toll. Plug-ins, BHOs, add-ons, additional toolbars, if unnecessary, all compete with networking and computing resources.  The result is that your ability to browse slows down and is… hijacked.

Installation

An important reminder from our last article – these items land on our PC without our knowledge but are a result of unsafe browsing practices including opening email attachments or passing files from one PC to your own via chat rooms, peer-to-peer file sharing, or instant messaging.  It may be hard to believe, but many unwanted items wind up on our PC because you installed them unknowingly.  Some are from legitimate software vendors that bundle their installation with other software.  You need to examine the install steps and clear any check boxes that include extra programs.

Typically when installing software you will see some screens that have checkboxes with items like:

You need to know that you CAN clear these check boxes.  In this way, ONLY the software you intended to have in the first place will still be installed.

Action Items:

We are going to point you to our last article – Bogged Down – for steps on how to uninstall unwanted items.  The first step is removal of the items.  Next, we are going to cover how to restore your browser to its previous condition.

To restore the browser

Good Practices:

Let’s cover just a few examples of good PC practice to keep your PC from suffering the ill effects of add-ons and foistware.

Be Vigilant

Don’t

• Don’t trust a download purely based on what you have heard or know of it – it could be faked and it can include add-ons.
• Don’t install additional browser toolbars unless you are certain it is for your daily PC use.  Too many toolbars can bog down your web browser and you may find you don’t use all the functionality.

Anti-virus Programs

We recommend using an anti-virus program that allows you to be in control.  This includes not being bothered or nagged by popup messages and complications.  It should run in the background and protect you.  To that end, there are programs that are free and offer basic coverage.

In Summary

We know of PC users that get into trouble with their computer repeatedly.  It usually means having to take it to a PC repair technician and having the computer wiped and re-installed.  We hope that this article will serve you in taking action when you run into trouble and will help you in preventing it from happening at all.

The post Restore Browser Speed appeared first on CompuClever.

The Hidden Factor

A very common PC experience is having too many applications requiring online access at the same time and applications that are picked up unknowingly that we can be considered unwanted.  This first category competes with resources and the second can be malicious or can run in the background without your knowledge.  Many software programs require taking up a portion of your Internet bandwidth to achieve their functionality.  In these instances the application will not even appear on your screen but will create “processes” – we can think of them as tasks – which include taking up Internet bandwidth.

Right from the time of installation these apps are designed to open and run in the background each time you start your PC.  Some of these apps can alter how you surf the web as is the case with malicious programs that are capable of hijacking your system so as to redirect you to particular sites.  They generate web traffic which can be profitable when selling software.  Redirecting you can also bring you to a page where other unethical vendors place ads and links to their own dubious websites.

Bog Down

There are several causes with respect to slow down that can potentially affect a number of your PC resources.  Applications running in the background compete with other programs you open and need such as your web browser or email application.  When too many applications run at the same time they compete for:

Some applications require background network processing which adds to Internet congestion.  Email applications require bandwidth to check for new emails sent to you on an ongoing basis. Any program that performs upgrade checks requires bandwidth, as in the case of online music players, online games, and anti-virus (AV) apps.  As for AV programs – many can bring about slower PC and Internet network performance as they need to monitor the Internet and update their database sometimes on an hourly basis.

Installation

How do these items wind up on our PC in the first place?  Some get there without our knowledge but are a result of unsafe browsing practices including opening email attachments or passing files from one PC to your own via chat rooms, peer-to-peer file sharing, or instant messaging.  As for other apps, it seems hard to believe, but many get there because you installed them unknowingly.  Some are from legitimate software vendors that include other software when you install.  Here’s a well known example: Adobe Flash Point.

With the image above you can see how there is an additional offer to install McAfee to your PC.  This little check box is on by default and if you don’t look closely and click the “Install now” button without clearing the checkbox… you will be downloading two programs at once.

Action Items:

Although there are some among us who are “delete shy” and do not want to go there, we need to take action by bringing to light what software we have on our PC.  These hidden applications can be brought to your attention and you can then make a choice to remove them or to stop them from starting up when you turn your computer.

Examination and Uninstall

We will be using the free functionality available with PC Clean Maestro to look for a complete list of applications and to remove unwanted programs.  It’s quite likely that you have noticed a recent change in your PC functioning.  If so, we will start by examining the recently installed programs. After that you can examine each and all of your applications and determine if you can safely remove unwanted ones:

Once you have completed this list you can choose from other program tabs – All Programs, Large Programs, or Rarely Used – and continue with your process of examination and removal.

Apps at Startup

Another symptom of your PC being bogged is that it is slow to start compared to when it was fairly new.  We have spoken on this issue before and it’s worth a re-visit.  At installation applications are designed to be easy to access by offering a shortcut in your desktop, quick launch taskbar, and in your Startup menu.  Having these programs run each time you start your PC can bring about slower performance both in terms of startup and with Internet network speeds when requiring bandwidth.

For this action item we are going to be using free functionality available in PC TuneUp Maestro.  The steps include: opening the Startup Manager; reviewing the items in the list; and then choosing to  Enable or Disable.

Good Practices:

Our intent is not to take away any PC functionality.  We instead empower you to examine what is on your PC that you either do not know or rarely use at all.  By disabling programs to run at startup, you still can access them whenever you want – you now have the control rather than the applications running wild.

While we agree that programs need to perform updates especially when fixing some issue related to security or functionality, we feel that it should be up to you to determine when this happens.  Good programs include options where you can choose when the upgrade occurs such as before you shut down.

In Summary:

We have presented information here that can better equip you with the necessary skills to improve your Internet connectivity and the symptoms of PC bog down.  We plan to continue this with our next article by examining the browser and items that can be installed there which not only clutter up your web browser toolbar, but can direct your online activities and slow down your Internet and regular PC activities.

The post Bogged Down appeared first on CompuClever.

What did we learn from our previous article and our investigation with the multitude of speed tests that are available?  We found out that there are considerable discrepancies in test results.  If you missed our previous article – click here.  We also found it difficult to determine if the results were based on averages or the top speeds that are achieved during the test.

We have one more batch of observations to make about these four speed tests.  We recommend that you pick out one speed test that suits your needs and try to stick with it to be able to compare your results over time.

Now that we have provided you with more information to better choose a site that you can use on a regular basis you are in a better position to assess if your connection is an issue.

Slow Downs and Jitter:

Jitter is a technical term.  Although it doesn’t sound very technical, it relates to the quality of your connection.  For example, if you are having a video chat or you are watching a streamed video and there are delays and interruptions, this is referred to as jitter.  What is happening is data is transferred to you in packets and when they are not arriving in a steady stream you experiences disruptions or shaky pulses.

Another factor in connection speed relates to how many connections are between you and the source (or the receiver if you are uploading data).  We can refer to these connections as hops.  It’s like traveling from one city to another but there are various roads and interstate highways in-between.  The slowest and less maintained of these roadways will be the “bottleneck”.

The other critical factor to consider in our data route is the potential bottleneck that can be from your hardware (wireless router or modem) or with your PC.  This is the real challenge – determining whether the slow down you may be experiencing is due to something wrong at your end or as a result of connectivity conditions.

Let’s break our investigation down between items that are outside of our control and ones that are in our local terrain.

External Issues

At Our End

How to Improve Your Speed:

Up to this point we have given some very useful information on how to test your Internet connection speed.  This is a very useful tool for your PC bag of tips and tricks.  We are now ready to move on to the next step… working on improving your speed.  First we need to check and rule out whether there are no other factors first requiring your attention.  Here are the top three items we would look at specifically if you were to require support relating to speed issues.

Internet TuneUp

Having unwanted applications can also cause browser issues.  Regardless of what browser type you are using, you can take full advantage of the Uninstaller tool available with PC Clean Maestro to remove recently added programs. Follow this link to find out about repairing your browser.

Now you are ready to deal with any networking issues by using the tune up tool available with PC TuneUp Maestro.  This tool analyzes your computer and provides a recommended list of items that will bring about Internet performance improvements.  The analysis focuses on PC areas that can benefit from a performance tuning and the results providing only the recommendations relevant to your system.  You can also use the Advanced Settings to configure the individual Internet TuneUp items.

Here are the steps:

In Summary:

The knowledge presented here is intended to equip you with the necessary skills to assess Internet connectivity.  While we have covered a fair amount of area, we do feel that you can gain a great level of confidence and familiarity when it comes to assessing the conditions related to Internet connectivity.  With this in hand you are better able to speak to your Internet Service Provider if the bottleneck is indeed at their end.

The post Improve Internet Speed appeared first on CompuClever.

Installing unwanted items to your computer can happen quickly and easily to the point of not knowing what you are getting.  The recent trend is to more easily accept free apps for our PC and because of this, distributors are packaging third-party and other, sometime questionable, software into bundles.  Bundled packages will include items that we do not want installed at any point for any reason.  The result, a user will typically experience unwanted changes such as their browser toolbar or home page being changed.  There is one program called Search Protect, that appears trustworthy based on its name and even claims to protect and maintain your browser settings, but it is a complete sham.

Unwanted Program:

The Search Protect program – from Client Connect; formerly Conduit, a venture of Perion – is known to be potentially dangerous in terms of being a browser virus that steals confidential information for third parties.  Less worrisome but still placing it in the realm of malicious software, it does modify the web browser targeting any or all of the following: search engine, home page, new tab page, and other settings, so as to point to a partner portal site.  From the Client Connect / Conduit website we can see the program in a completely different light:

The site goes on to say that you can use Search Protect to manage your browser settings but the reality is you have no control; the malicious settings remain.  The true known characteristics of this software offender include:

With the last point, some reports ^[2] state that attempting to remove the program can cause PC system errors.  Considering the program acts to guard the browser from any changes made, it would appear that you are stuck.  Not so if you have the right tools.

The Fix:

The steps involved in fixing and restoring your browser first begin with dealing with the unwanted program, Search Protect in our example, using PC Clean Maestro.

To uninstall the unwanted item:

The next step is to restore the browser to its previous state.

To restore the browser:

1. In the PC Clean Maestro window, select the Browsers button in the left pane as can be seen in the image below.
2. Select the browser tab (for example: “IE” or “Firefox”).
3. Click the restore button located at the top right.

Once you have completed these steps you can now open your browser and customize your homepage, search engine, and other options.

Here is a list of other programs to be on the lookout for: ^[3]

In Summary…

Applications and especially bundled programs need to be installed with our knowledge and consent and from trusted sources.  Having the ability to quickly determine what you have recently installed is vital.  PC Clean Maestro identifies installed items and effectively uninstalls unwanted programs.  With the offending item out of the way you can return your browser to the way you prefer it.

We will continue to provide story lines like this that benefit all of us and we will describe them in a manner that is within reach of everyday computer users.  If you have some ideas of topics you would like us to cover, email us at: newsletter@compuclever.com

The post Browser Repair appeared first on CompuClever.

We have chosen six of the most popular articles from 2014. Here is an overview of these articles in three categories:

Privacy / Security:
– Identify and Clean Cookies (July)
– Virus vs PUP and How to Remove Both (Sept)

TuneUp / Clean Up:
– Improve Startup (Aug)
– Spring PC Cleaning (June)

Support:
– CompuClever Free Functionality (Oct)
– DIY vs. Repair Shop (Nov)

Here are the PC enhancement articles for 2014.

Identify and Clean Cookies

About: Not all cookies are created equal. Cookies are created when browsing to particular web pages. While most are safe – especially when coming from a trusted source – not all are. While cookies cannot infect your PC, there can be potential dangers related to security and privacy.

Action: You can prevent cookies from being stored and you can delete existing ones. We focus on removal beginning with backing up your data. When you data is secure… PC Clean Maestro is well equipped to scan, display, and clean cookies and other items that are security or privacy risks. We also include information on how to set up your browser for DNT – Do Not Track mode.
Read the entire article here…

DIY vs. Repair Shop

About: In this article we give warning to anyone who blindly takes their PC to a repair shop. We highlight one case where a particular gentleman had been ripped off by a technician who blamed the cause of his PC troubles on a computer cookie planted by CompuClever! This brings up the question – who can you trust? Checking credentials is paramount. For example, CompuClever applications have approved Microsoft and Intel certification.

Action: This article assists the reader in determining if the cause of their issues is from unwanted software or from a virus. We empower the reader to take the right steps before putting trust in someone who claims to be an expert.

Read the entire article here…

CompuClever Free Functionality

About: We’re very familiar with the notion of “free” but… with strings attached. We see this whenever we download a free application and it includes around three or more extra bits of software that you have to carefully remove during the installation process. We took the opportunity to introduce our applications and show how anyone can use some of their functionality for free indefinitely.

Action: If you have purchased one of the CompuClever applications and you like what you see… here’s your chance to try out one of the others for free. If you want the full program you can upgrade at any time of your choosing. Here are some examples of the free functionality available:

Read the entire article here…

Virus vs PUP and How to Remove Both

About: This subject matter is complex and involved. We focus on simplifying it as best we can to define virus and PUP – Potentially Unwanted Programs. We find that users often feel that the occurrence of PUPs can mean they have a virus. This is not necessarily true and we want to empower our readers to take action.

Action: It makes sense to work on the symptoms first. If you have unwanted behaviours coming from an unknown source, you can begin by identifying the source. PC Clean Maestro comes with a newly upgraded Uninstaller tool that can assist you to examine what is a trusted application so you can remove what is not. As for viruses, there are free tools available and there are paid applications. We recommend the best place to start is with trusted free tools from Microsoft.

Read the article here…

Improve Startup

About: We focus on one area of poor performance which can be very annoying – the startup time of your PC. Although we can’t expect that our PC will run as fast as when we first purchased it, we can adjust what programs first get started when powering up.

Action: You are instructed on how to use PC TuneUp Maestro’s Optimize PC tool. You will find it easy to review all the programs displayed in the list. Once you have done so you can customize how they perform at startup by disabling or enabling any item in the list.
Read the entire article here…

Spring PC Cleaning

About: This article is one of our favorites as it appeals to our instinct to clean and organize and we have used very easy and straightforward steps. In terms of “clean” we refer to removing clutter and backing up files we want to keep. By doing so we improve the performance of the PC and make our lives a lot easier in terms of accessing the files and data we need.

Action: If you are getting the feeling you have a lot of files on your PC and space may eventually be an issue… here is your chance to follow some easy steps. They include:

By managing your files you are actively preventing performance degradation and you can take comfort in the fact that the files you value highly are safe!
Read the entire article here…

The post New Year’s PC Resolution appeared first on CompuClever.

Here is what we will cover:

Without getting into too many of the details and specifics of this technology we will point out some basics.

Components

We will focus on components related to what we see when we bring up our web browser, namely the user interface.  We will also talk about the items that are referred to as “extensions” that can be added to a browser after you have installed it.

Typically the user interface (UI) consists of three areas:

The toolbar is used for navigational purposes as it has buttons such as back, forward, refresh, stop, and home (to get you back to your homepage).  It also has an address bar so you can type in a web address and you likely have a search bar to enter in words that can bring up a list of applicable web pages to the subject you are interested.

Two Most Frequently Altered Areas of the Browser: We get a lot of feedback and reports of how alterations have been made to the Search engine and the homepage.  The Search engine is designed to search for information and content on the Internet.  Examples include Google, Bing, Ask, Yahoo! Search and the like.  These are sophisticated programs that crawl the web and quickly provide results of your inquiry.  A homepage is the page you first see and want to access when you open your browser.

All users want to make a choice of a Search engine and homepage that they are both familiar with and meet their needs.  It becomes all that more frustrating when installing something that modifies these areas of your browser without consent.  We will show you how to return your browser to its default settings in a later section of the article.

Extensions: Components that can be added to the browser to increase functionality are referred to as extensions.  These can be in the form of toolbars and other add-ons or plug-ins.  Examples include toolbar extensions to provide some specific functionality such as web searching using a specific search engine, better access to installed applications, or providing convenient links or categorizations of media sites.  In some cases they can provide extra functionality as with Ad blockers that block ads on the sites you visit and terminate items that collect and send your data.  The challenge with all extensions is identifying what each of these are, making absolutely sure they are from trusted sources, and knowing that they are not bogging down your browsing experience.

Top Picks:

Google Chrome came into the browser fray in 2008 and this brought about new advances in browser technology in terms of speed, standards, and design which forced the other players to catch up.  And catch up they did.  One review by PCMag put the independent open source Mozilla Firefox at the top of their list for best browser:

But the “best” is a matter of preference and to a large extent will depend on your needs. The three most commonly used browsers are: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft IE.  These take top honors and we can focus our attention on them.

Most Popular:  In terms of popularity, at this time Google Chrome ranks number one, with Mozilla Firefox second and IE in third place.^[2]

Speed: Most reports^[3,4] related to speed (startup and web page load times), put Chrome at the top followed by Firefox and then IE.  It is important to note, no browser reviewed here is in any way sluggish and there are trade-offs for speed as described below.  Based on our experience of browsers, we concur with these findings.

Operating System (OS): Finding the right browser can depend to a great extent on what OS you are running on your PC.

Privacy: The three browsers each have private browsing modes.  Firefox and Chrome lead the way in this arena.  Note: browser privacy means not saving cookies or browsing history but does not protect you from websites that can collect or share information about you.  To take it to the next level you need to look into extensions, such as HTTPS Everywhere, Disconnect, or AdBlock Plus.

Extensions:  Firefox takes top place with a combination of add-ons, pin tabs, web apps and more.  Next in line is Chrome which taps into Chrome desktop apps and Google Now notifications.

Price:  When making your choice you will want to know what the costs are and what it takes to try out a new browser.  Internet Explorer is included with Windows operating systems and can be downloaded for free.  All browsers are free to download and run and you simply have to go to the website (such as Mozilla.org or Google.com).  This makes it possible to pick and choose one – or more than one – without worrying about the price tag.

Browser Clean Up with PC Clean Maestro

:
Making a decision about which browser to use could depend largely on how well you can customize it and take advantage of extended functionality.  However, some things have a way of taking on a life of their own.  You can start off small – with the basics – and soon you have more than you bargained for.  This can happen all too easily with browser extensions.  At times these little program tidbits can get installed without our expressed knowledge or consent.  Situations occur where your homepage or our favorite search engine is modified.  In the worst case scenario, rogue or malicious software can make alterations we do not want.

The most recent version of PC Clean Maestro now comes with new functionality to provide you the ability to examine browser extensions and disable them.  Once you open the program you can click on the “Browsers” tab in the left pane and you will see the following:

Now the steps are easy…

You’ll note with the example above that extensions are organized in categories specific to the type of browser you are using.  Also, as in this case, more than one browser can be installed to your system and you can examine these one at a time using the tabs at the top (for example, “Chrome” or “Firefox”).

Restoring Settings:  You can easily restore the browser settings that you had by default when first using your browser.  This is especially useful if they have been altered without your consent.  Frequently, new software installations like to make changes to your search engine or your homepage to direct your web surfing.  To restore your settings do the following:

In Summary:

Being able to pick a winner from the top three most popular browsers is a personal decision for most of us but one that needs to be based on PC capabilities and individual needs.  We appreciate that there are these choices available to us and that the competition spurs on better technology.  We promote good ethics when it comes to PC technology.  Browser extensions need to be installed with our knowledge and consent and from trusted sources.  PC Clean Maestro offers the ability to have you turn off add-ons that are unwanted.

We will continue to provide story lines like this that benefit all of us and we will describe them in a manner that is within reach of everyday computer users.  If you have some ideas of topics you would like us to cover, email us at: newsletter@compuclever.com

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CompuClever offers four programs including: PC TuneUp Maestro, PC Clean Maestro, Ultra eBook Reader, and Ultra File Opener. We will provide a description of each product, introduce what each product is capable of, and highlight the free functionality that is available with that product.

PC TuneUp Maestro

PC TuneUp Maestro is the most advanced suite of PC maintenance software tools available. PC TuneUp Maestro uses advanced error analysis and resolution technology to fix, clean, and optimize your system.  You get a stable and reliable PC that runs at peak performance like when you first began operating it.

Free function list

PC Clean Maestro

Your PC can store unwanted “junk” files and traces of your personal information including passwords, credit card information, and email / chat communications.  As a result your PC runs slower and exposes you and your family to identity and security theft. PC Clean Maestro removes unwanted files and it eliminates confidential information so your PC is clean and safe.  It also comes equipped with an Uninstaller tool to help you identify and remove applications you no longer need or use.

Free function list

Ultra File Opener

Ultra File Opener (UFO) is the ultimate viewer for opening PC files.  Hundreds of different file types are supported, including images, text files, archive files, audio and video files, and data files.  Equipped with Hex Decoding technology, UFO is capable of opening files of any type.  You can view images, text files, and the contents of archive files.  You can also choose from a number of functions for each of these file types including printing, converting, and extracting.  UFO also enables you to manage the default file association so each file format is handled by the program you want.

Free function list

Ultra eBook Reader

Open an eBook directly on your PC or device and enjoy the ultimate PC reading experience. Ultra eBook Reader supports 12 of the most popular file types.  You can view your eBook using a variety of display modes.  If you have touch screen support you can use pinch-to-zoom and multi-touch functionality.  You can navigate using bookmarks and with the table of contents, as well as taking advantage of the search functionality. You can create bookmarks and link to them in the Bookmark pane.  You can even print your eBook.

Free function list

Read this article to learn more about how you can use Ultra eBook Reader to enhance your reading experience using your existing computer.

In Summary:

At CompuClever we are committed to creating PC utility software that improves the performance of your PC.  We also offer programs such as our Ultra eBook Reader for the everyday user that makes day-to-day computing more rewarding.  We combine our products and our service to offer a professional package to meet our user’s needs.  Look for our program updates such as a new and improved Uninstaller for PC Clean Maestro, as we continue to improve our offerings to you.

We hope this article has helped gain some knowledge about our product lines and stimulated your interest of trying some of the aforementioned free functionality to make your day-to-day use of computers more enjoyable and productive.  We will continue to provide story lines like this that benefit all of us and we will describe them in a manner that is within reach of everyday computer users.  If you have some ideas of topics you would like us to cover, email us at: newsletter@compuclever.com

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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.  A PUP on the other hand can be installed with your consent – even though you may not know it.

Let’s Get Started!

We’re going to look at a general definition and description of these two types of PC predicaments.

Virus

A virus is a type of malware (malicious software program), that is installed on your system without consent and will replicate itself in whole or in part.  It behaves in a manner that can be thought of as an infection by targeting one or more areas of your PC.  You can often expect to experience harmful activities or negative impacts such as monopolizing system resources (disk space and CPU), gaining access to private data, sending out spam content, corrupting data on the system, and displaying messages on the screen (popups).  While these harmful behaviours are typically expected not all viruses come equipped with a damaging payload.
Other traits:

PUP

This term, short for Potentially Unwanted Program, refers to items that may be unwanted.  This can include spyware (tracking software that gathers information), adware (where advertisements are displayed during operation), and dialers (if you have a modem, a dialer can make pay-per-call phone calls to other computers).  Most frequently it includes items you downloaded but without explicit consent.  In other words, you said yes but didn’t read the fine print.  One or more PUPs are most often downloaded along with software that you did in fact want (bundled together).  These items can bog down your system and can cause poor PC performance.

In a previous article we introduced “foistware” – a term derived from the word “foist” which is to foist upon or impose fraudulently or unjustifiably as with inferior merchandise on a customer.  This includes software that gets installed in addition to software you intended to install without your full knowledge or through stealthy methods such as being bundled with software you actually want.  The result can take the form of:

Unlike a virus, a PUP does not have the ability to replicate itself.  As for “unwanted”, they can include behaviours that result in negative impacts such as popups and annoying messages appearing and resources being excessively utilized (hard drive space or CPU).

Software vendors use bundling techniques frequently when offering a free application.  We have mentioned in previous articles how “free” is not always free; this is yet another example.  This is yet another example.  To gain revenue a software vendor will partner with a less desirable software creator to deliver a bundled program that requires you to carefully select what you are installing during the install process as we soon point out.  Once on your system, the manufactures of the less desired software provide advertisement or benefit from you clicking to their site.

These types of unwanted programs are not technically malware but have undesirable side effects for your PC as listed above.  Side effects can also include slower performance as these items will launch processes that run in the background.

Treatments:

There are ways of treating these PC plights.  However, as can be expected there is not one solution that works in all instances.  You cannot expect anti-virus tools to work for items that have been installed to your system with your consent albeit using dodgy methods.  We are going to reverse the order here and start with what should be easier to deal with –potentially unwanted programs.  If you cannot deal with them using these methods… chances are you are dealing with something more malicious.

Remove PUP

The process of removing a PUP is to begin by identifying it.  With PC Clean Maestro you can use the Uninstaller tool.  Begin by opening the program and following these steps:

1. Click the Uninstaller button in the left navigation bar.
2. The Uninstaller tool will appear and a complete list of programs is displayed as seen here:

1. Review the list by selecting any item and use the Program Information in the right pane to help identify programs.
2. If there are items you do not know and you are unsure if you should remove the item go online to better verify it.  You can enter the program name in the Should I Remove It website.  This site provides removal percentages and ratings for a wide range of programs.
3. Return back to PC Clean Maestro when making your decision and uninstall the item if you are certain you do not need it using the Uninstall button.

Clean Virus

There are free anti-virus tools that have been developed and there are pay-to-use solutions that are part of a multi-billion dollar industry.  Unfortunately, no one software program can provide 100% protection and offer the ability to remove all types of viruses as there are countless known viruses and new ones constantly being introduced.  New viruses that appear take time for the creators of anti-virus programs to include in their arsenal of protection.  This is why constant updating of these kinds of programs is required.  Fortunately free tools are open source; that is, free and open for anyone to run, modify and update so as to be available to the public domain.

Detection and Prevention:

To prevent a PUP from being downloaded to your system you need to be very vigilant when downloading anything.  This means you need to detect when a program is bundled with other add-ons during the installation process.   When installing software you typically see a step-by-step install wizard that guides you through the process and offers you choices along the way.  The choices you make – even during the EULA (End User License Agreement) – will determine what you accept to be downloaded.

We recommend that you follow this link for a very clear, step-by-step example of potentially unwanted programs and how you can detect and avoid downloading these unwanted apps.

In Summary:

Even when software is installed to your system using legitimate means there are instances when additional software and add-ons, sometimes referred to as “crapware”, are included.  What you get isn’t what you see.  Removal can be questionable when you don’t know what you are dealing with.  With the information provided here you now have the tools and knowledge to better identify these and to remove them.

We hope this article has helped gain some insight and offered you some effective strategies on cleaning your PC.  We will continue to provide story lines like this that benefit all of us and we will describe them in a manner that is within reach of everyday computer users.  If you have some ideas of topics you would like us to cover, email us at: newsletter@compuclever.com

The post Virus vs. PUP and how to remove both appeared first on CompuClever.