How to Protect Yourself Against Online Scams

The constant barrage of spam emails and barely-legitimate advertising on the Internet can make it seem like everyone's out to trick you, and a pretty substantial proportion of those people actually are. Computers have brought many conveniences into our lives, but they've also made it easier for scammers, confidence tricksters and criminals to get their hooks in as well, often protected by the veil of online anonymity we're all afforded online.

The best way to prevent yourself from becoming a victim is to be prepared. That's why we've compiled this list of scams, tricks and traps that you might encounter because of your computer, whether online or offline. To give you a fighting chance, we'll also explain the strategies you can use and preventative measures you can take to ensure that your computer - and the personal information kept on it - remains as far away from the eyes of the scammers as is possible. 

Give Your PC A Spring Clean For Instant Results

Does your PC freeze or shutdown after it's been on for a while, or whilst you are performing lots of tasks? If so, there's a good chance the machine is getting a bit hot under the collar . More specifically, your CPU (Central Processing Unit) is getting too hot and finding it hard to function properly.

The reason for this problem is surprisingly good old fashioned, low tech: dust. The dust is drawn into your PC's case because the machine sucks in air to cool down important components. The hottest of these components is normally the CPU, which - like we do after exercise - produces heat as a by-product of its work. The same simple law that says work makes heat is also true of all your machine's major parts. As they work away they get a little toasty – and sometimes this can be dangerous.

The Beginners Guide to Home Servers

In this feature I’ll be reaching out to those people who want to

take the next natural step in their home systems, and establish

a home server. It’s often a sign that, having discovered what

individual devices can do, that you’re ready to join up the dots

and deliver something more than the sum of the parts.

This isn’t something that everyone will do or want to do, but

the advantages of having a centralised server are convincing.

Tips & Tricks: How To Access Hidden Browser In Windows 8

If for any reason you cannot access your web browser in windows 8 or any version of windows. You can use this handy trick. 

Upgrade to Windows 8

You can still get Windows 8 even if you don't want to splash out on a new computer. Here's how...

When it comes to moving to Microsoft's latest operating system, most people will do so when they buy a new desktop PC, laptop or even tablet. Following the horror stories of upgrading underspecced Windows XP PCs to the much-maligned Vista, even hardened tech upgraders have been fighting shy of'upgrading'their computer's operating system. After all, a PC can be the third biggest investment you ever make, after your house and car, and the operating system is its blood supply.

But Windows 8 is different. You could make a good case for upgrading a Windows 7 PC at least, for two simple reasons. First, it’s the most radical change in Microsoft PC computing since Windows 3.0 made way for Windows 95. And, perhaps more pertinently in this case, the system requirements are just the same as they are for Windows 7. Indeed, if your system can run Vista, it will handle Windows 8 with aplomb. And, some would argue the upgrade may make your computing experience smoother.

PC Upgrade Q&A

When the time comes to upgrade your PC, you might have trouble deciding the best place to spend your time and money. Do you get more RAM or a new hard drive? Do you get an up-to-date graphics card or replace the motherboard? As you may have noticed, it's quite hard to compare the advantages of different component upgrades, and ultimately your decision rests on what you want your PC to do after you've spent the money on it.

For that reason, we've compiled this FAQ-style list of wants, needs, intentions and constraints to give you the best advice about upgrading. To use it, just go down the list, find the entry that corresponds to your feelings, and you'll be able to discover which upgrade is right for you.

Speed up your PC...For free

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO RESTORING YOUR PCs POWER

However fast your computer is, there comes a time when you can't help wanting it to perform a little better. Maybe you need to squeeze a few extra frames out of a game. Maybe you just want it to run like it did on the day you bought it. 

Whatever your reasoning, I've compiled a list of all the ways you can speed up your computer (some easy, some not so easy, some drastic, some simple) without having to spend any money. If you've ever sat at your PC and thought 'What's taking so long!?' or 'Can't this thing go any faster!?' this is where you'll find your answers...