Have You Noticed that Your Computer Has Slowed Down Over Time? Here’s Why:
Guess what? Did you know that your computer automatically keeps a copy of every document you’ve opened, every Web page you’ve visited, every picture you’ve viewed, etc.? Over time, these copies actually gobble up storage space on your computer. In fact, these old copies begin to compete with what you’re doing today on your computer for space. This is one of the main reasons why your computer begins to slow down over time.
The Prime Suspect (Usually)
D@#& Internet! When you surf the Internet, and if you use something like a Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla browser to access the Internet, images, ads, and other kinds of computer code automatically pile onto your computer. Over time, this automatic storage will cause your computer to seem like it’s working slowly, Web sites won’t seem to load quickly, and even viruses and other not-so-fun things can stick on your machine. The danger in not cleaning your machine regularly, in addition to a gradual reduction in speed, is that some of the not-so-fun-things can actually track where you go on the Internet. In more extreme cases, your personal identity can be jeopardized.
Just When You Thought Cookies Were Yummy…
Some of the not-so-fun things are actually called cookies, which are little pieces of computer code that stay in your Internet browser until you clean them out. Many online ads and Websites will automatically stick these cookies on your Internet browser. Sometimes you know about this when you visit a Website that asks if you want the site to remember you, save your user name and password, etc. Ever been to an online shopping site, or even your online banking site, and it asks if you want your user name and password saved in case you come back? If you say yes, you unknowingly slap a cookie on your machine. Never do this because you are storing information on your machine that can be tracked by some creepy bad guys, not to mention those advertising people!
Speaking of Advertisers…
In addition to cookies, adware is another type of computer code that tracks where else you go on the Internet. When ad people design online ad campaigns, they often like to learn as much as they can about what your online surfing behavior is. Ever wonder why you mysteriously get junk e-mail? Here’s why: Some smart computer program is tracking your footprints via the adware that’s nestled in your Internet browser, and thus, your computer. If you’ve entered your e-mail address while shopping online, and you’ve never cleaned your machine, some version of adware or cookies probably recorded it and sent it to some database that then sends you junk e-mail. Worse yet, if you entered your name and address, credit card info, etc., this information can be tracked and sent to cyberspace. Besides those smarty-pants ad people, a computer hacker, identity thief, or some other not-so-charming character can pretty easily grab your info.
REALLY Bad Cookies
“Bad cookies” and “bad adware” are often called malware. As mentioned above, if you don’t clean your machine, your personal information is just sitting there. Malware is computer code that’s specifically designed to steal your name, address, credit card info, etc., and in many cases, install a virus or other nasty thing on your machine.
Smart malware can actually dig into your machine, watch everything you do, steal more info, and sometimes even hijack your machine entirely. Have you ever seen your machine either start up in the middle of the night for some unknown reason or see it come to a crawl when you go online? No, your computer’s not haunted. But, you might have malware living on your machine, in addition to a virus or two.
Now for the Good News!
Routine cleaning of your machine can help prevent these bad things from happening to your machine or you. In short, you should clean these files off your computer at least weekly, daily, or even after every time you use your machine…Always! Look, you brush your teeth every day so you won’t develop long-term problems, right? Cleaning your computer daily will help keep you from having big problems later on.
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