ServerMonkey Blog

The Monkeys have come up with several tips for you to keep in mind when setting up your computer. While we know there are more tips out there, these are our favorite. 

1. Back up your data
   Like anything else in life, your computer can break down. Your hard drive can fail, your house can catch on fire, you can spill coffee on your CPU, or you can drop your laptop leaving it in one million pieces on the ground. You had an important case for work and thousands of precious family photos you can’t get back now. Always be prepared for the worst case scenario and back up your data. There are backup softwares as well as external storage devices you should consider. Data transfer is quick and easy and setting up a backup plan only takes a few minutes. We recommend looking into backup software because your data will be backed up, even if something happens to your house.  
   
   
2. Malware protection
   Malware (malicious software) is a computer program designed to do things that are harmful or unwanted by the computer’s user. Viruses, malware, and Trojans are lurking around, waiting to slow down your computer and modify your files. Viruses and malware are easy to avoid. There are hundreds of softwares (free and paid) out there to download to your computer. We recommend running a scan once a week, but you can run it as often as you want. Remember to avoid pirated software, sketchy email attachments, and links on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites.
   
   
3. Keep your computer updated
   By not updating your computer, you leave your computer vulnerable and at risk. Keeping your software updated can help block viruses. Computers now have automatic reminders to update your software, though you can also choose to manually update your programs. Keep all of your programs up to date- even the little guys. Clean up your temporary files too- this will decrease the amount of clutter on your hard drive. Update your software, hardware, and operating system. Remember to restart your computer when necessary!
   
   
4. Learn the shortcuts
   Our world is quick and constantly moving and we need to keep up. Every computer has shortcuts. Here are a few of the most common ones:

Have other computer tips? Share them with us in the comments below!