As silly as it may sound, it’s critical that you know what programs are running on your computer. For the safety and maximal utilization of your computer’s resources, keeping watch on these processes is a smart move. You wouldn’t want a bunch of people in your home without knowing why they’re there using up your space, now would you? I didn’t think so.
The easiest, most basic way to get a read on running processes on your computer would be to ask your computer itself. By typing in the command CTRL + ALT + DELETE, you will be given your PC’s “Task Manager”. The “Applications” tab gives you a brief look at the programs you are currently utilizing. Programs like Internet Explorer and Microsoft Word will be displayed here. The next tab, “Processes”, gives you a more detailed look at all the individual executables that are helping run all your active programs. Instead of seeing “Internet Explorer”, you’ll see “IEXPLORE.EXE”. This tab also displays the name of the user that is currently running these processes, as well as the memory usage for each program. Any program under the user names “SYSTEM, NETWORK SERVICE or LOCAL SERVICE” can be ignored, as these are being used by the operating system itself and were not executed by you. As you peruse the list, keep an eye out for unfamiliar processes. These may be a sign of spyware or other unwanted programs that are running in the background, and you may choose to highlight them and click on “End Process”. This will disable the process for the time being, and consequently, increase your PC’s speed. (Note: The “Performance” and “Networking” can be ignored, as you will not be editing anything in these fields)
To take another step in the right direction, go to your “Start” menu and choose “Run.” Type in “MSCONFIG” and go directly to “Startup”. The remaining fields are not to be touched! This will display the programs that are automatically loading when your computer starts. Certain processes should always be running, like your anti-virus software. Aside from your necessities, you can uncheck any processes you don’t need immediately upon startup, and save yourself a lot of lag time.
In addition to personally digging through your computer, you can also use process scanning sites, such as Process Library.com (www.processlibrary.com/processscan/). A site like this will generate a detailed list of running processes on your PC, as well as explanations as to each program’s purpose, or lack thereof. The best part about it is that it’s free, and you’ll get valuable information to keep you from becoming a victim to an unknown, unwelcome source.
In the event of virus detection, take the appropriate steps to eliminate the problem. These are many tools that can be used for free that will take care of most computer bugs (AVG, Ad-Aware, Spybot, Ewido, etc.). But remember – the most effective way to prevent these mishaps is to purchase virus protection like Norton Antivirus that runs anytime your PC is running.
Taking the extra time to learn more about your helpful (and expensive!) piece of technology will not only benefit your computer, but it will also benefit your peace of mind.
