As winter flu season approaches, many of us head to doctors offices, eager to be inoculated against the insidious viruses that threaten our physical health. How many of us, however, remember to visit a tech specialist to inoculate our computers against the insidious pests that threaten to infect them year round? Too busy for an office visit? Education World makes house calls! Included: Eight categories of software your computer shouldn't live without.
Many educators -- and non-educators alike -- wonder about the minimum software applications their computers need to stay in top working order. To answer their questions, I downloaded and tested -- on multiple laptops and desktops -- an assortment of basic software programs, arriving finally at what I regard as the minimum requirements for a "safe and clean" cyberlife.
Note: Although I do cite brand names, I am not recommending any particular brands. These happen to be brands I tested and found reliable; however, I do not intend to promote one brand over another. I am simply recommending categories of software and providing at least one high quality example for each category. Many of the programs mentioned are free.
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To keep your machine in tip-top shape, I recommend buying or downloading nine categories of software applications. Those categories are: 1. Immunity; 2. Emergency; 3. Protection; 4. Privacy; 5. Security; 6. Peace; 7. Surveillance; 8. Convenience; 9. Speed.
If possible, begin with a 'clean' machine; one on which the existing operating system (OS) is the original (not upgraded, as upgrades mount on unnecessary remnants from previous version) OS. Then install the following program categories, which I've listed below in order of importance:
Now that your computer has a clean bill of health, you might feel better, too. A healthy machine makes for a sane owner! Remember: There are only two kinds of people -- those who have lost information and those who will! Don't be a statistic.
Article by John P. Anchan
Education World®
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