There's nothing more annoying than a PC that gradually slows your computing to a virtual halt. Following Tech Guys 360 easy maintenance tips and best practices can help go a long way towards keeping your computer running as if it were new.

Get up to date

It's always good practice to keep your computer up to date with the latest operating system patches, software updates and drivers. Microsoft regularly issues updates to Windows, many of which will improve the general efficiency of your computer and patch security flaws. Tech Guys 360 Ltd recommends Windows 10 if you are still currently running Window 7 you need to be thinking about upgrading to Window 10 ASAP as Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft, so there will not be any future security updates.

Safeguard yourself

Use a reputable malware and virus protection package, to avoid slowdowns caused by viruses and other internet threats.

Tech Guys 360 recommend the Built-in Windows Defender for traditional antivirus – the criminals have moved on from regular viruses to focus on Ransomware, zero-day attacks, and even worse malware that traditional antivirus just can’t handle. Windows Defender is built Windows 10, blazing fast, doesn’t annoy you, and does its job cleaning old-school viruses. Microsoft’s antivirus fell way behind the others when it came to comparing other antivirus software. It was that bad that we recommended something else, but it’s since bounced back, and now provides very good protection.

So, in short, yes: Windows Defender is good enough (if you couple it with a good anti-malware program, as we mentioned above).

To complement Windows Defender we recommend Malwarebytes for Anti-Malware and Anti-Exploit – all of the huge malware outbreaks these days are using zero-day flaws in your browser to install ransomware to take over your PC only then releasing it back to you once you have paid the ransom, and only Malwarebytes provides really excellent protection against this with their unique anti-exploit system. There’s no bloatware and it won’t slow you down.

Too many tabs?

The internet is a much more complex place than it used to be. Even basic news websites run video and interactive ads. As a result, running with loads of tabs open on your web browser can bog down your computer's running speed, in short keep open tabs to a minimum.

Don't fill up

If your hard drive is bursting at its seams you will notice a slowdown. Once your storage drive approaches 90% of its capacity, it's time to either remove unwanted clutter or upgrade. If you don't, your PC will get slower and slower. If you've been using a computer for a while, you probably know about the need to defrag your hard drive. If you're on Windows 10, though, forget what you learned in the '90s-defragging is no longer necessary, Windows 10 handles files much better than previous Microsoft operating systems, and periodically defrags automatically, another reason to upgrade.

Memory and storage

Computers don't won’t go on forever. Over time, your software needs will get more demanding, your hard drive will get full as your requirements will change. So, if you've taken the steps above and your computer is still having performance issues, it might be time to upgrade to a modern processor, more random-access memory (RAM) and more storage. Upgrading the innards of your computer can be cost-effective, (although not always) particularly as RAM and solid-state drive storage have plummeted in price in recent years. But make sure you talk to Tech Guys 360 to ensure your purchases will make a difference in your computer's performance.

Surf safely

Stay safe online by adhering to these golden rules.

Never give out personal information online, either over email or to a website, unless you absolutely trust the authenticity of the site.

Before submitting any personal data especially banking details ensure the web extension starts with https:// and displays the padlock icon in front of it. This signifies that site has the correct security protocols to protect your data.

As for downloads-only use app stores that you trust, such as the app store from yourcomputer's manufacturer.

Click carefully on email. If you get an email that looks strange, just delete it even if itappears to come from a friend.