Now more than ever it is important for us to keep our computers up to date to ensure we keep the nasty part of the internet at bay. There are several areas which you need to keep as up to date as possible.

The first area is Windows itself. This is done through the Windows Update website. It is a must to keep Windows up to date with all of the security breaches in the world today as well as the increasing amount of personal information we keep on our computers. The best way to keep Windows updated is to enable the “Automatic Updates” feature. This is done in by going to your control panel and selecting the “Automatic Updates” icon. When the screen opens you can then choose how the update procedure behaves. But I must remind you that this does not get all of the Windows updates. It is geared at the class of updates labeled “Critical”. These are most likely security updates, etc. To ensure you get all of the updates for Windows simply open Internet Explorer, click on Tools, and then click “Windows Update”. Your computer will then be scanned to determine what updates are needed. When it finishes you select them all and let the computer go to work.

Another essential area needing to be kept up to date is your antivirus solution. Installing the software package alone does not mean that you are protected. Your solution should search for updates itself when it detects and internet connection but you can manually get it to update as well. The steps will differ depending on which solution you use but some common ones are:

AVG – Right click on the icon near the clock and select check for updates

With all of the various threats and unwanted items floating around the internet it is important that you perform these tasks on a regular basis. Most anti-virus providers release updates at least every second week. Microsoft issues updates to Windows on the second Tuesday of every month. This has affectionately become known as Patch Tuesday.

If you take the time to ensure that your computer is kept up to date then you will be well on your way to enjoying the use of your computer. It is when we let our guard down and forget to perform these simple tasks that we get into trouble. And unfortunately with the complexity of computers these days the fixes are not always easy or cheap.