I am frequently engaged in conversations regarding the best websites people can visit. I’ve come up with a list of six websites which I believe are the best to keep your computer healthy and well maintained. No matter if it’s e-mail or simple maintenance, these sites should aid in keeping you out of trouble. If you do get in trouble they may aid in bailing you out. Enjoy this week’s article and keep these sites in mind next time you want to stay safe.
1. Google.com. In addition to being a top-rated search engine, Google is also one of the best e-mail providers I’ve ever used. Gmail actively scans your incoming e-mail for virus and spyware attachments and deletes them automatically. Gmail accounts can be set up to manage other e-mail accounts as well. Once setup, Gmail can interface with most modern smart phones to automatically check and download e-mail on-the-go. Give Gmail a try and you’ll be happy you did.
2. Filehippo.com. With a name like Filehippo this site must be a kids’ site, right? Wrong. Filehippo offers a large collection of mostly free software which is always kept up to date. You can download virus and spyware software, word processors, and just about anything you can imagine. My first stop for updated virus software is always Filehippo. Just about every utility listed under the Anti-Malware list is a decent title.
3. kellys-korner-xp.com. Kellys Korner is a strange site to put in this list because XP is quickly being pushed away. However, Windows XP users who find themselves with a strange problem are sure to find this site invaluable. Kelly (yes there is a Kelly) has solutions for just about every known XP problem. I believe you’ll find her list of fixes quick and easy.
4. OpenDNS.org. Cloud computing is the latest buzz word to hit the streets in the computer world. The ‘cloud’ refers to somewhere in internet space other than your computer. In other words, nothing is kept on your computer. OpenDNS has created probably the best traffic management system around. Within minutes of signing up for a free account users can block groups of sites or individual sites. Let’s say you want to keep your kids off music sites; with OpenDNS you can block all music sites with one click. OpenDNS will also block sites which have been known to distribute viruses or other malicious code.
5. Microsoft.com. What does Microsoft have that I can’t get from other sites? I’ve asked that question many times too and keep coming back with a pretty simple answer. They built it so they should be able to support it. At least the basic stuff anyways. There are two products which have proven invaluable for maintaining computers: Fixit and Security Essentials. Fixit utilities provide a quick solution to common operating system issues like CD drives not working. With a few clicks the Fixit utilities go to work and provide an automated solution to most issues. Security Essentials has been found to remove and repair specific Windows issues better than other software I’ve used. I would certainly not recommend it for a final virus scanner, but it does make a good utility for testing.
6. hirensbootcd.net. For the advanced PC user, Hiren produces a CD compilation of fantastic utilities to perform just about any known task. I find myself using Hiren’s CD as a substitute for loading utilities on my business machine. From one CD I can copy hard drives, back-up and recover data from corrupt drives, and even fully test a computer. It takes a little bit of time to understand how the CD works but it is well worth the effort.
Tip of the week: Check your Wii controller’s strap to make sure it’s secure. We had one controller land across the living room at our house this weekend due to a broken strap.
(Jeromy Patriquin is the President of Laptop & Computer Repair, Inc. located at 509 Main St. in Gardner. You can e-mail him at remoquin@gmail.com or call him directly at (978) 919-8059.)