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PC Performance Problems (Slow PC and Crashes)

Computer crashes happen when a program (either an application or part of the operating system) stops performing its expected function and stops responding to other parts of the system. Often the offending program may simply appear to freeze. If your computer crashes frequently, it may be the result of undetected malware on your system. Malicious threats such as spyware and computer viruses may be at work, tracking your activities, tampering with your files and stealing personal information.

Here’s how they do it:

Malware invades your computer.
You visit a Web site, open an e-mail message or download a picture. Somewhere in your normal online computing activities, malware silently loads itself onto your computer. Once on your PC, it sets up shop by installing itself in many places. This makes it difficult to remove and can lead to disruption of all the files and programs to which malware has attached itself.

Malware activity bogs down PC processes.
Malware in action can consume a substantial amount of your computer’s memory, leaving limited resources for other legitimate programs to use. This can lead to extremely sluggish performance of vital programs, like your Internet browser or operating system and a slow PC overall.

Files become damaged and programs malfunction.
The most noxious malware can cause more than inconvenient disruptions. It can bring your PC to a grinding halt by:

You can no longer rely on your PC to operate properly, if at all.
With malware wreaking havoc on your PC, you can never count on programs to run properly or files to remain intact. Eventually you may not even be able to open programs or start your computer at all.

Prevent a slow PC and computer crashes.
There are a few simple things you can do right away to prevent further malware infection and speed your PC performance and stop frequent computer crashes:

  • Update your operating system regularly
  • Increase your browser security settings
  • Avoid questionable Web sites
  • Only download software from sites you trust. Carefully evaluate free software and file-sharing applications before downloading them.
  • Practice safe e-mail protocol
  • Don’t open messages from unknown senders
  • Immediately delete messages you suspect to be spam

 

Make sure that you have the best security software products installed on your PC:

The best way to avoid PC peformance problems is to prevent malware infections in the first place. Products like Webroot Internet Security Essentials and Webroot AntiVirus with Spy Sweeper guard against malware entering your computer and prevent it from slowing your PC through damage to your files and programs. A good anti-malware program searches every place on your PC where spyware and viruses can hide and removes every trace to boost your PC performance. While free anti-spyware and antivirus downloads are available, they just can’t keep up with the continuous onslaught of new malware strains. Previously undetected forms of malware can often do the most damage to your PC, so it’s critical to have up-to-the-minute, guaranteed protection.