Password Security

Computer Care: The password is ... Best bet is to mix it up

	By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com

POSTED: October 19, 2012 11:59 p.m.

	Passwords are part of computing; there is no way around that. If you use a computer and the Internet, you will eventually need to use them. You may or may not need a password to log onto your computer, but one was needed to get your email this morning. Even if you didn’t have to manually type one in, your computer recalled it for you. I use a password manager and also allow Google Chrome to remember my passwords for me. There are 15 or so of them that I refer to on a regular basis to access various websites like email, my cloud storage, Amazon and other ecommerce sites that I frequent. There are also banking PIN numbers, alarm keypad codes and wireless router keys which are forms of passwords. You may use one to gain entry to your smart phone. Call them what you will, but any series of alpha-numeric codes you use to access something secretly is a password. There is no easy way for most of us to remember all of those codes, especially when choosing different ones for each site or application. If you use the same password for all of your websites and accounts, all could be compromised if just one is. So why take a chance? The poor choices are the obvious ones like your birthday or anniversary dates, your street, pet or your children’s names. Don’t choose the easy options. Stir it up a bit. Spell out anything that you can remember. Chocolate chip ice cream with chocolate syrup becomes ccicwcs; then add a number or symbol or caps. The end result could be CCiCwCs9*. Stir things up even more; spell things backward. A. Jones becomes senoja, then add numbers, caps or symbols to spice it up, like senojA5#. Be creative. Instead of your dog’s name, try using mydogbubba. Add caps or symbols for even more security as in mydogbubbA*7 or shorten it to dogbubbA*7. Backward, bubba becomes abbub. While on the topic of passwords and email, spam is something we all unfortunately get with email. One of the easiest ways to get spam is by having your email address sold to online merchants. The best way to avoid that is to be careful to whom and where you use your email address. Many times when you subscribe to a newsletter or sign up for something, it’s stated your address won’t be sold. Often times though, it is. That’s where most spam originates. One way to avoid this is to create secondary additional Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail or other accounts that you won’t regularly check or only to verify a subscription that you just signed up for. When the inbox is full on this throw-away account, just sign up for another. An alternative is to use a Disposable Email Account. I use yopmail, but there are many others to choose from. They include Dispostable, Dudmail, MailExpire, DeadAddress, Spamex, Incognito Mail, Dodgeit, Yopmail and Mailinator. All work basically the same way. You create a name, they offer an extension and a duration with most adding the ability to check the account for incoming mail. Sometimes you can get away with simply making up an address with a nonexistent domain and have it work. I’ve used xyz5@abcmail.com, but if a response is required, then that strategy won’t work. Recently, I signed up for a free sample online that required me to click on a link in an email to verify my address. Using yopmail, I created an address on the fly and checked it from their site (the same page I used to create it) a few minutes later. There was the link. You don’t need to commit anything to memory; just create a new name next time you need a DEA. Remember to change your passwords regularly. Use password managers like LastPass, Roboform or Password Safe to help you recall them. Although less secure, you could simply allow your browser to remember them for you. Visit pwnedlist.com to see if your email address has ever been hacked. Choose passwords that are unique for every account, not the same one for all of them and give them to no one. The longer the better. Use at least eight to 10 characters and mix them up with caps, numbers and symbols. There’s a password generator at random.org if you have trouble on your own. Don’t fall for phishing scams. Beware of any emails or websites asking you to provide sensitive personal information. Not even your bank will ask you for your password. Avoid using addresses, birthdays or dog’s names. To circumvent spam effectively, use disposable email accounts. The end result will yield higher security for your accounts with less paranoia about being hacked. As easy as it has become these days to have your privacy compromised, you want to make it as difficult as you possibly can. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Longer IP Addresses Coming

Computer Care: Get ready for a longer new IP address POSTED: October 6, 2012 1:00 a.m.

	Computer Care: Get ready for a longer new IP address By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com POSTED: October 6, 2012 1:00 a.m If you've ever had to call tech support for a networking issue, they most likely asked you at some point to type your router's IP address into your computer. That address would have looked something like 192.168.0.1. Presently that number gives you access to your router so you can change its settings like your network name, allow you to set up encryption for security purposes or to change your password. Each computer and other smart device that connects to each other through the Internet requires a unique identifier or number known as an Internet Protocol Address. Each website you access online is actually a computer with an IP address. Those numbers are currently allocated from a system known as Internet Protocol version 4 or IPv4 -- and it is about to run out of numbers. That system was introduced in the 1970s when nobody really knew who or how many would be using the Internet. The rest as they say, is history. Asia has supposedly already run out of addresses on IPv4. Europe is next and then North America is expected to fall short sometime next year. But there is a new Internet protocol called IPv6. It is the next generation of the Internet. With it, those addresses will change from a 32-bit to a 128-bit format and will look something like 2001:0db8:85a3:0042:0000:8a2e:0370:7334, having eight groups of four letters and numbers separated by colons. Instead of the billions of addresses that we now have (and are about to run out of), we will have addresses in the trillions. There will be more than enough for a long time to come for home and business computers, laptops, tablets and mobile phones as well as cars, refrigerators, alarm systems and an abundance of other smart home devices that will soon have Internet access worldwide. The chances of running out of those addresses are slim. For those who understand math (I don’t), the number of possible unique addresses available in IPv6 are 480 billion billion billion billion or 4.8 times 10 to the 38th power. The population of the Earth is approaching 7 billion people and that of the Internet is only approximately 2 billion, but growing rapidly. So what’s the rush you say? Well if you’re like me, I have at least five devices that use IP addressing: laptop, desktop, router, smartphone and Tivo. If you have a smart television, a gaming device or use VoIP phones, a PDA or a tablet, add those to your list. Home appliances that are still in development will need Internet addresses. Not that your living room will rival that of “The Jetsons,” but each new device that is being made is smarter than that of its predecessor. This coming new era of home appliances will be relaying information not just to you but to one another as well, so the need for more addresses was paramount. In the not-so-distant future you‘ll be able to access your freezer from your phone to tell it to make more ice for your party. On your ride home from work, you could ask your oven to preheat itself or access your DVR to record that new episode of “Revolution” that you forgot to set up. Each of these devices would have a unique IP address just as our computers do now. Many Internet Service Providers have jumped on the bandwagon and have converted or are in the process of converting to the new system. June 6 was the unofficial start date in the U.S. Google, Microsoft, You Tube, Facebook, Yahoo and many ISPs, as well as numerous municipalities have already begun implementing IPv6. Although there is no official deadline mandated, many corporations and governments have installed self-imposed deadlines and plan to employ the new address system within a year or so. Currently many are now using both the old and new systems to make for a seamless transition if and when IPv4 is finally retired. You should not experience any interruption of service at all – well, not any more than usual anyway. This will be a long transitional period and “out with the old, in with the new,” no doubt will be a long way off yet. IPv4 will most certainly still be around for years to come. Although they may be working together, they are two wholly independent entities not unlike a pair of old and new cables running underground, side by side. If curious, you can check at http://test-ipv6.com/ to see which system you are currently on. Chances are, you’re still with the old one. It could be years until the change is complete. I can only assume that each new piece of equipment we purchase (computer, router, modem), and each part of the Internet infrastructure that is replaced, eventually will be IPv6-ready. You won’t need to do anything and may not even notice a change, except for the longer address format. But the new system, aside from allowing many more devices to be connected, will be easier for ISPs to manage, faster and a lot more secure. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Smarter Smartphones

Computer Care: Smartphones keep getting smarter and better

By Arthur Glazer glazer.tech@gmail.com

POSTED: September 22, 2012 1:00 a.m.

	Although mobile phones have been around for a while, smart phone technology has advanced at a rate much faster than that of the PC. By the end of 2011, there were 6 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide. That’s 87 percent of the Earth’s population. Of those, approximately 40 percent are smartphones. Today’s mobile phones are not only phones that are mobile; they are computers as well as personal assistants. The reason they have become so popular is due to the device’s extensive capabilities. Along with 2.4 billion smartphone users, I use it to send emails and texts, video chat, browse the Web and shop, check airline schedules, listen to Internet radio and watch videos, check bank balances and pay bills, keep a daily agenda, take photos and videos, set an alarm, navigate in the car, check the weather and, of course, make phone calls. Applications for the phone have become as ubiquitous as the device itself. Most are free or cost less than $4. Each of us have apps we can’t live without. The ones I use constantly are my GPS, the dictionary app, my flashlight and most recently, my virtual assistants. I have Jeannie, Sam and Robin installed on my phone. Some are better with certain tasks than the others, so I haven’t yet decided which one to keep. I began with Sam, actually Assistant, from speaktoit.com after I Googled Siri-like apps. I read the reviews and loaded a few; most got deleted almost instantly. Sam adds things to my calendar and sets alarms. Although she has the answers to most of my queries, for some she just sends me to the Web. While driving, I don’t want to have to look at the screen, but just hear the responses. Sam also crashes every now and then, but I like her. There are various avatars to choose along with different voices, both male and female. She speaks to me by name with a British accent. Pannous.net is where I got Jeannie from. She also does the daily tasks I need, as does Robin, from evi.com. When I asked Robin to call home though, she said it was not in my contact list. All will make calls, send texts and read a weather forecast. In my car I use Vlingo (vlingo.com) because of the interface that appears when I place the phone in its dock. I press only a few buttons or have it respond to my voice. It’s great to be able to say, “Send text to Tess: home late tonight,” or “Navigate to 123 Old Dirt Road, Podunk, Ga.” With a virtual assistant, you can ask your phone not just directions, but how many cups in a gallon, who was the 23rd president or how many moons does Jupiter have? It all comes down to personal preference. Do you like the sound and is the interface easy? Most have free versions; many are still in beta (polished product not out yet), so some may function better than others on your phone. Try a few out before you decide. With almost 500 million smartphones shipped in 2011 and another 145 million in the first quarter of this year, they are only becoming more prevalent. Apple is breaking its own records with sales of the new iPhone 5 expected to be over 46 million by the end of the year. Two million were ordered in just a couple of days prior to the Friday release. Personally, I’m an Android guy, along with over half of all smartphone users. I like the interface and the larger size of my Droid. It is highly customizable. I have multiple home screens, each with a different purpose. One has my agenda, another with icons of those I call often, one with navigation features, another with my assistants, plus one with random apps. Mobile phones are heading in a direction that will be of assistance to us all. Just as bar codes, the RFID chip, Bluetooth and QR codes first helped us, there is now a new technology called Near Field Communication. With NFC we will be able to use our phones as credit cards. Some phones now let you scan them to make a purchase as in Starbucks. With NFC you only need to be near the scanner, not under it. The technology is built into Android phones already. For a full explanation, visit nearfieldcommunication.org. It keeps getting easier. But now that your phone is also your computer, it shares similar characteristics. It will slow down and may get infected. If you’re a smartphone user, download a (free) utility that clears the phone’s cache and refreshes the RAM. Just as with your PC, your phone can get sluggish with lots of apps installed. See your phone’s store for downloads. It’s also a good idea to install an antivirus app for your smartphone. As they become more popular, those who write malware and viruses will certainly soon target this up and coming technology. The apps may be free, but there is still a price to pay. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Test Drive Windows 8

Computer Care: Taking Windows 8 for a test drive By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com UPDATED: September 8, 2012 1:00 a.m. It’s that time again; time to roll down your windows and roll up your sleeves. There’s a new operating system in town and it’s waiting for you to give it a test drive. Windows 8 is here and Microsoft is letting you take it for a spin for a few months. It will be for sale in late October, but you will have until the end of the year to try it for free. Before we kick the tires, pop the hood and discuss its merits, I first offer you two ways to install it to your computer without giving up the installation that you are currently using. Windows 8 Release Preview is available for download here. You will need to burn the file to a disc and then install it in either of two ways. You can set up a dual configuration so you have a choice of which version of Windows to boot into or you can create what is known as a virtual environment. I chose the latter and it was relatively easy. Whichever method you choose, you will need the key provided, so make a copy of that number. I found dozens of sites that walk you through setting up a dual boot configuration. Just Google “dual boot Windows 8” and choose one that is easy for you to understand. With a virtual environment, you will create Windows within Windows and it will be temporary. When you shut it down, you will return to business as usual with your existing version of Windows. For my test drive, I used Virtual Player. Go here where the process is explained thoroughly. Scroll to the bottom of that page for a link to the download and follow the instructions there. If you choose all the default options when offered any during the installation, the process should go very smoothly. There are no decisions to make other than the initial choice of 32- or 64-bit. I spent a half hour installing Virtual Player and another full hour getting Win 8 up and running. After running it through its paces and exploring the new features, I rebooted my system and it was gone. It could easily be called up again in a new virtual environment, should the desire to explore be ongoing. Win 8 doesn’t require a super processor with multiple cores or more RAM than most of us have on our computers today. It should install fine on any system that is no older than about five years. Speaking of new features, this new incarnation of an old operating system has many changes. To begin, its boot time has been drastically slashed and for the time in decades, there is no start button. It has been replaced with what Microsoft calls its Metro Screen. This new start feature incorporates various interactive tiles that will allow you to navigate your system more efficiently, so they claim. It looks like it will take some getting used to and may have a higher learning curve. These tiles allow quick views of incoming email, notify you of audio files being played and offer access to newly installed apps as well as websites you’ve visited. It seems there is the possibility of crowding there, although hopefully there is a way to tame the process. Personally, I liked the old start button. To gain access to anything you can also simply type the app or file in a search box. Like the way the Control Panel now operates, it will yield a list of anything similar to what you are looking for. A ribbon like the one we use in Office will now be incorporated into Windows Explorer, making it easier to complete repetitive tasks. Since this version of Windows is aimed at touch screen/tablet users, there are many features for that crowd. It can however, be used by anyone with a mouse and keyboard. It has a choice of virtual keyboards and offers handwriting recognition for those who use a scribe to compute. Microsoft’s Sky Drive is incorporated in Win 8. It is a virtual storage option. Rather than connect an external storage drive to your computer, you can upload your files to a secure place in Microsoft’s cloud for storage. A store not unlike what your smartphone has, will also be in the new Windows. It will be easier to get apps for your computer, but the offerings will be from the gang in Redmond only. A free antivirus is included in Win 8, but it will be as effective as any free utility. Its scope will be limited. You will be able to click on photos instead of typing a password — why, I’m not sure. I’m also not sure I will like Windows 8 and the confines of this column don’t allow for me to elaborate. I subscribe to the old saying that if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. I like Win 7 just fine and I don’t have a touch screen anyway. But it was a nice drive checking it out. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Malware and your computer

Computer Care: Don’t let malware steal your PC

	By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com

POSTED: August 25, 2012 1:00 a.m.

	Back in the day, a simple scan of your computer’s hard drive was enough to thwart off most infections. Unfortunately, that’s not the case anymore. Malware has evolved. It’s not just random pop-ups as it used to be. There are now intimidating names such as rootkits, zero-day threats, keyloggers, redirects, drive-by downloads and phishing attacks. Good old adware and spyware are still around, too, though, not to worry. Malware has gotten smarter. Those drive-by downloads are becoming ever-popular. Old-school advice to be careful what you click on doesn’t hold as true as it used to. You don’t always have to download or even click on something now to get infected. Often, by the time you open a web page or an email, you could be infected. Malware has become more elusive. In HTML email messages or on certain web pages, tiny pixel-sized code can hide in frames within frames making it often impossible to detect. It’s not only us that can’t see it. Many security apps have trouble seeing it as well. Drive-by downloads exploit your browser’s vulnerabilities and computer’s low security settings to find their way onto your system. Keeping your applications, browser, security software and operating system updated is the best defense. Most computer users don’t, and those who prey on your system hope just that. By definition, malware is bad software. It is programs, applications, utilities, anything that runs on your system without your knowledge or permission. It’s all bad stuff and often difficult to remove. In the past few months, I have removed very few bona fide viruses from clients’ computers. It’s been various forms of malware that has been keeping me busy. I have encountered fake antivirus infections, intimidating FBI warnings, false registry error notices and bogus programs that claim to speed up your system. Most will only remove money from your wallet, nothing else. Having the proper utilities installed is also important. But allow me a moment here. I recently encountered a client with massive infections on her system who claimed to have protection. She did. The trouble was it never set to scan. Once you get a security app, be sure it is configured properly. Set it to scan at a time when the computer is on, but when you are not using it. Be advised that if you have an antivirus app, your system will be protected against just viruses. Most of those programs don’t look for malware. Better protection is an all-encompassing Internet security suite that will look for just about everything. You may have to shell out a few bucks, as most free versions either look for viruses only or don’t have real-time protection. Some also lack a scheduler. If you must stick to the freebies, supplement your protection with addition utilities. Malwarebytes or WinPatrol are two good utilities (there are others), but they have their limitations. The paid version scans in real time. That means each website or file that is encountered is scrutinized as it appears. The after-the-fact method of scanning manually is often too late. You are looking for infections after they have damaged your system. The better alternative is to be proactive and catch them before they settle in. My security app inquires whether or not I’d like to visit a website it deems unsafe. I usually follow its lead. When asked if I’d like to continue on to suspect-site.com, I just say no. If you get an all-inclusive program, find one that incorporates varying methods of detection of malware. Some use whitelists or blacklists, while other use heuristics. This method is often better at finding new or unknown types of infections that may have similar signatures of known programs with malicious code. There is a yet a different type of protection in programs such as Deep Freeze and Returnil. Systems that have these installed remain free of infection, but there are drawbacks. Each time the computer is rebooted, it goes back to its default settings, rendering it impossible to be infected — and difficult to save anything. There are back doors built in, but as I mentioned, they could be tricky to use. Another alternative is to use a program that utilizes a sandbox. This method isolates anything that may be hazardous to your system to a certain area of your hard drive. Like a sandbox on a playground, it is contained. If you want to experiment with a new, unknown application, your system remains secure with it safe in the sandbox. Sandboxie is offered in both free and paid versions with the former just about as good as the latter. You’ll get a nag screen after a month with free version (ignore it) and the paid version offers multiple sandboxes to secure more than one open app. BufferZone is another similar app and along with Sandboxie, could be found at download.com. Read the editor’s, as well as users’ reviews of apps you may be interested in there. Whatever method of protection you choose be certain to use it properly. Install it, configure it, use it and keep it updated. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Time to replace your PC?

	Computer Care: When is it time to replace your PC?

	By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com

	POSTED: August 11, 2012 1:00 a.m.

	Here we are in the middle of the annual tax-free shopping weekend. You’re back from vacation, ready to go back to work or school and wonder if it’s time to upgrade your computer. My laptop initiated its self-destruct sequence this summer when I needed it the most. While creating a slide show for the camp I was working for out of town, the motherboard suddenly died on me. There are many things I can repair, but a motherboard on a five year-old laptop was simply not cost-effective. So I now have a new Sony Vaio that I have wanted for years. The inconvenience of finishing that slideshow on an old XP machine was less than efficient or enjoyable. I should have seen the light at the end of the tunnel. It was an oncoming train and it hit me hard. But you’ve got to ask yourself how much you want to invest in repairs, while also considering the age of the computer. Often the repair is absolutely worth the expenditure, sometimes not. Should you need additional RAM (system memory) or a new hard drive, I say go for it. If you have an infection such as a virus or malware, why toss a perfectly good machine if it can be fixed? Even upgrading your operating system is a viable option to consider. If the computer is not too old but you are running Vista (or XP), purchase a Windows 7 CD. Even if that computer eventually dies, you can still install the OS on your next or another computer. If your motherboard goes out on an older machine as it did for me, it’s time to go shopping. Always check to see if you are still covered under a warranty before making a decision. Even if you are not and your computer is only two years old, it may be worth replacing the motherboard (or display or hard drive) before you head to the electronics store. That said, should you find yourself wherever you get your home electronics, there are many deals to be had this weekend. Even if you miss the tax-free break currently being offered, Labor Day is just around the corner and sales will abound then as well. I always start shopping on the Internet, even if I end up in a brick-and-mortar establishment for the purchase. Do your research. There are websites like nextag.com, bizrate, pricegrabber, logicbuy or finderscheapers that do comparative shopping for you, finding you the best deals out there. First, you need to decide what type of computer you need if it is time to replace what you have. I used a desktop only, for many years. Then I became a laptop guy. I still like to use my desktop with its dual-monitor array when I do a lot of photo editing. Desktops are generally less expensive than laptops because of the size. (The smaller the technology, the more it costs). But with that in mind, desktops come with only the box, no monitor as in the old days. You’ll get a mouse and keyboard, but that’s it. Your old XP printer may not work with your new system, so that is something else to consider. There are simply few device drivers to match XP and Win 7 technologies. I found many laptops, notebooks, ultrabooks — call them what you will — that start at $300. Keep in mind these are the 10-12 inch displays with low-end processors, little memory and small hard drives.  For another hundred bucks or more, you can find a nice mobile system. As always, technology has gotten slicker as the prices continue to drop. My first laptop cost about $1,500. I paid a fraction of that for my Vaio last week for technology that rivals that of the Mars Rover. Many consumers have gone the way of mobile computing. As much as I use my Android, it will be a long time until I forfeit my laptop for mobile-only computing. I prefer a tangible keyboard and a screen larger than my glide pad. So that brings us to the tablet category. If they only made a 10-inch tablet with wireless Internet and Bluetooth that was also a phone, I’d get in line, but they don’t. What they do have are Acer, Samsung, Asus, Sony and Motorola tablets that start around $300. If you don’t mind typing on a virtual keyboard and have a way to carry it around (I don’t have an attaché or a man-purse) then this option may be for you. Talk about portable. These devices weigh next to nothing and are tiny. For example, I found a Motorola Xoom refurb (yet another option to consider) for $239 online at logicbuy.com with free shipping. Seek and ye shall find. So if you only need to eradicate a malware infection or replace your hard drive, spend your money on that. If your computer is older than your shoes, now is the time to replace that relic. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.

Speed up your computer's boot time

	Computer Care: Cleaning your startup will speed up your boot time By Arthur Glazerglazer.tech@gmail.com POSTED: June 23, 2012 1:00 a.m.
	After Windows loads on your computer, the reason you can’t immediately start clicking on icons or go online is that other applications are still being loaded in the background. If one of those apps is your anti-virus or something else that you use or need on a regular basis like Skype, then it’s best to leave it alone. Unfortunately though, most of what loads are schedulers, updaters or random programs, things that don’t need to be constantly running with Windows. Those rogue background applications, toolbars and widgets that find their way to your startup folder suck the life out of your system. By the time seven or eight unwanted items are loaded, little RAM is left where it is needed. Many (but not all) of these programs are referenced by icons next to the clock in your toolbar. Windows will allow you to terminate what loads after it boots, but there are also third-party utilities for this purpose. Many as usual, are free. Alternatively, there are also commercial versions of dedicated startup managers for Windows. Many all-in-one utilities or suites have a tool to handle startup programs. Let’s start with Windows. In each version, if you click the Start button and type “msconfig” in the Search or Run box, it will open a System Configuration utility. Click on the startup tab and view the list within. Uncheck the items you want to terminate and click “Apply,” then “OK.” You’ll then get pop-up asking you to restart Windows. You can right-click on an icon in the list by the clock to terminate and delete it, but unless removed from the startup list, it will return at the next boot. The only items on the list that you really need are your antivirus and malware utilities. If you use a password manager, it, too, is a keeper. Otherwise, all else is superfluous and may be terminated. Keep in mind that you are not deleting any of these programs from the computer; you’re only stopping them from loading automatically at boot time. Anything that you remove from the list can always alternatively be run from your desktop or Start Menu. If you do want to delete an item for good (they have a way of coming back), download and install the tiny “msconfig cleanup” tool. Only use it when you are sure you know what you are stopping from loading, as it will delete the item from the list, not allowing you to recheck it later on. With “msconfig,” you can always go back and recheck a box should you change your mind. Once you use the “msconfig cleanup” tool, it’s gone. Some other good free utilities to consider are Ccleaner, Autoruns, Starter, Startup Control Panel and Startup Inspector. Another good program is Soluto. It was in beta (testing phase) for over a year, but now has the bugs worked out and is free for up to five PCs. It takes a while to load, but uses little resources once it does. Soluto will explain what each program you have does (if it has heard of it), how much time it takes for each program to load and will give you the option to keep it, delay its loading or to delete it from the startup list. Some utility suites that incorporate a startup manager are Win Patrol, System Mechanic, Advanced System Care, 360 Amigo System SpeedUp and Glary Utilities. All have commercial versions, but many of the free options have functional startup managers as well. Worth repeating is my warning that just because something says it is a free download doesn’t necessarily mean it is a free program. All downloads are free; all programs are not. To avoid the need for any of the aforementioned utilities, all you have to do is carefully monitor each installation on your computer. In most cases, it’s the user that provides permission for these “startups” to be installed in the first place. Scrutinize each check box prior to clicking “Next” and “OK” during program installations. One of those checkmarks may give permission to install a secondary program alongside the app that you are knowingly installing. This is where those widgets, toolbars and screensavers come from that mysteriously appear on your computer. If you let more than one or two slip by, you will need a startup tuner to eliminate them after the fact. Your computer will run faster whether those startup items are quashed at installation, if you run the Windows utility or use a dedicated startup tuner to manage them afterward. By supervising the programs that run in the background after Windows boots up, your computer will be able to run more efficiently. It will have access to the entire amount of system RAM available to it only when what needs to run, actually does. Arthur Glazer is a freelance writer and computer technician in Gainesville. His column appears biweekly on the Business page and on gainesvilletimes.com.