Ever wonder why your internet connection seems slow…  Part of it maybe the web browser your using…Internet Explorer, especially the earlier versions of it (6,  and 7), can be rather foolish with it’s default settings….

How To Delete Temporary Internet Files and Cookies

Internet Explorer caches web pages you visit and cookies coming from those pages. While designed to speed up browsing, if left unchecked the burgeoning folders can sometimes slow IE to a crawl or cause other unexpected behavior. In general, the less is more principal works well here – keep the Internet Explorer cache small and clear it often. Here’s how to:

• For Internet Explorer v6
  • under Temporary Internet files select Delete Files and select OK when prompted.
  • Click on Settings under Temporary Internet Files
  • Under “…disk space to use…”, change the setting to 5Mb or less. (For optimal performance, no less than 3Mb and no more than 5Mb is recommended).
  • Click OK to exit the Settings menu and then click OK again to exit the Internet Options menu.
  • Close Internet Explorer and restart it for changes to take effect.

• For Internet Explorer v7
  • From the Internet Explorer menu, click Tools | Internet Options.
  • Click on Browsing history, and select Delete.
  • From the Delete Browsing History window select Delete all… from the bottom of the dialog and click Yes when prompted.
  • To delete individual categories, select Delete files… for the desired category and select Yes when promoted.
  • When finished, click Close to close the Delete Browsing History window.
  • Click on Settings under Browsing History
  • Under “…disk space to use…”, change the setting to 5Mb or less. (For optimal performance, no less than 3Mb and no more than 5Mb is recommended).
  • Click OK to exit the Settings menu and then click OK again to exit the Internet Options menu.
  • Close Internet Explorer and restart it for changes to take effect.

Ensure that you have a Trusted Antivirus package

It’s a real issue, but Viruses and Malware need to be protected against, but some rogue Antivirus / Malware packages actually don’t do anything.

Some of the trusted vendors of Antivirus software are:

• Symantec
• McAfee
• AVG / Grisoft
• TrendMicro
• Panda Security – Please note this is a relative newcomer
• BitDefender

Be cautious if you are using any other Antivirus software.  Check the internet, and see what reviewers are saying about the package before you purchase or install it.

Also, keep in mind, having more than 1 antivirus software package on your computer at a time, is dangerous.  Having McAfee Antivirus and AVG running at the same time, does not making your system more safe, you will end up slowing down your system, and possibly having conflicts between the two packages.  Those conflicts may cause system crashes, or erratic behavior from your software.

Also, please ensure that your subscription to your antivirus software is up to date.  Symantec, McAfee and other antivirus companies charge a yearly fee for their virus definition updates.  They do not charge for software updates, just the virus definitions.  So you may still receive software updates, but have a lapsed antivirus definition subscription.  Why is this dangerous?  Because if your virus definitions subscription lapsed two years ago, then you are not protected from any virus created in the last two years.

I came across a system that hadn’t had virus definition updates in 5 years, and was infected with over 200+ viruses.  No wonder it was running slowly….  After a BitDefender scan & cleaning, I switched the users to AVG….

If you suspect a virus, or malware, please run the “Security Tango“.  It will walk you through a extremely safe path through the dangerous world of malware & viruses.