The last two weeks we looked at some of the ways you need to physically clean your computer for spring or any other time of the year.
Today we will clean your computer’s software.
First, make sure that you are regularly checking your Operating Systems upgrades, i.e. HaWindows 7, 8.1, etc. Yes, you may have it set to automatically run updates; however, you need to make sure you have the latest every now and then. Check your update settings by going to Start and typing, "Windows Update," then clicking the "Change Settings." Check the appropriate choices. They will make sense to you. If not, Google for a description. Mine is set to check for important updates, but let me choose to download and install, give me recommended updates and finally, give me updates for other MS updates. I am comfortable with those choices but you may not be. Change them and nothing will hurt you, unless you never update.
The funny thing is there is no choice to download and install optional updates. To get all offered updates for your devices, occasionally check Windows Update for all available updates, including optional updates. I always install those too; however, that is your choice. This is why you should manually run Windows Updates monthly. I also suggest you do this after the second week of the month due to, "Patch Tuesday." Patch Tuesday occurs on the second, and sometimes fourth, Tuesday of each month in North America. This is when Microsoft sends out all of the items for download to your system for updates. Wait until after that time and you will get them all.
All of your other software is harder to update but you should take a stab at it on occasion. You could check most every application you have on your computer by opening the app, going to "Help" then either "Check for Updates" or "About" which is where they are usually found. Then run the recommended update.
There are also several applications you can get to check your other applications’ updates. However, none of them are perfect. I regularly compare several of the main ones and usually get varying results.
- FileHippo App Manager (filehippo.com) – the one I use most often and is quick and easy. Use the "Download our free app manager" link only.Kaspersky Software Updater (kaspersky.com/free-tools) – good and can be set to run on a schedule of your choosing.
- Secunia PSI (secunia.com/psi) – I have used this the longest, if you run the scan manually it takes a good while. It also appears to search more apps than the others.
- SUMo (kcsoftwares.com) – finds many apps; however is the hardest to use of all I have tested.
- Update Notifier (cleansofts.org) – a simple one but still finds many. Check settings to not get beta updates.
I ran all of these as well as a couple of others today. I got varying results and none of them match. So I guess you could run all of them for better coverage. I alternate between FileHippo (quick and thorough) and Secunia (slow but very thorough) but they both find apps the other one misses…go figure.
