Hello everyone,

I believe that computer repair techs will always be in demand. The Internet is so full of different types of malware that only a very savvy user can avoid it. Many of the attacks now are through browser hijackers, add-ons and extensions. Consider what just happened to me:

I got a call from a client who said that her laptop was “running slow”. Once I got the laptop to my shop and turned it on, I was surprised that it was even running at all. I could have held an actual clinic for anyone interested in learning how to identify and remove malware. Consider what I identified and removed (a couple of these items are not actually malware, but do slow the computer down and can be replaced with more effective programs):

That’s a lot of “junk” on one laptop. There were also outdated versions of Flash, Java and Shockwave Player. I replaced Adobe Reader with Sumatra PDF, reset System Restore, installed Microsoft Security Essentials, ran Defraggler, changed some Power Options, and had previously ran CCleaner, PureRa, Revo Uninstaller Junk Files Remover, and Gould CleanUp. For good measure I ran CrystalDiskInfo to check the hard drive.