Back to School Computer Tips

The first day of school is just around the corner. This means that computers need to be ready to handle all those homework assignments and reports. Have you neglected your computer this summer? Is it ready for back to school season? Dust off your PC and get it ready for the fall! Much like “spring cleaning” season, back-to-school season is a good time to get your computer checked!

Here’s a few tips to get your computer ready for the school year!

Check for Threats

Check your system for threats like viruses and malware. Viruses are designed to infiltrate and damage your computer and its contents. Some viruses can leave your computer completely inoperable, while others delete or corrupt your files. Take time to ensure that your PC is equipped with updated antivirus protection. Getting protection now can save you a lot of headaches in the future.

Apply All Updates

Before the school year starts, apply all available software, security, and program updates. Updates exist to keep our computers running smoothly, while applying certain patches to fix any performance or security issues. The easiest way for hackers to access your computer is to exploit known security holes that haven’t been patched.

Expect the Unexpected

There’s always a possibility that something could happen to your files and data. Backup plans are crucial to saving files. You can lose your data in several different ways. Your computer can crash, your hard drive can fail, or a virus or malware can corrupt your files and even disable your computer.  The last thing you want to hear is that your children suddenly lost their entire report. Teach your children to make copies of their reports and save them on a flash drive, an external hard drive, or in the cloud.

Make Room to Grow

You need to make sure that your hard drive has plenty of available space. Not only do you need to make room for new storage, but your computer needs space for processing temporary files. Uninstall programs that aren’t used or delete old files to free up space. Windows users can launch “Disk Cleanup” to remove old, temporary files that accumulate over time.

Even if you don’t have kids going back to school, it’s always a good idea to get your computer checked, especially if you haven’t done so in a while. Getting an evaluation can reveal ways to secure, optimize, or upgrade your PC. It can also determine if you need to buy a new system.

Is your computer fully protected from threats? Does it have the latest antivirus protection? Do you need help backing up your files? If you’re not sure or you need help, contact your local IT professionals!