What should you do when you notice that your computer is slowing down?

Since the outbreak of the Chinese Communist virus, large numbers of people around the world have been working and going to school from home, and many have maintained this work-study pattern to this day, leading to a surge in not only Internet usage, but also an increase in personal computer use. What should you do when you notice that your computer is slowing down?

During the epidemic, many people lived a life where they stayed in touch with colleagues, clients, and friends during the day on Google Classroom, Google Ring Chat, and various video software platforms. When the day is done, the evening is spent shopping online or watching video shows on Hulu.

Your computer collects a lot of data and files, which often clog up your system frequently. At the same time you may also develop some bad computer usage habits. And of course, hackers are watching all of this, waiting patiently to attack those vulnerable WiFi connections as well as vulnerable people.

A computer that is too slow can make even the simplest of tasks drag to completion, such as downloading a file or watching a video on social media. For those who work from home, slow computers can put them at risk of missing important work deadlines.

Chuck Brooks, president of Brooks Consulting International and a technology and cybersecurity expert, told Yahoo Life that the fix for a slow computer is to find out what’s causing the problem in the first place.

“There are multiple reasons that can slow down a computer,” he said.

“It can be due to configuration errors; malware infections; spyware; too many applications installed with too much data; lack of updates or patches; or cryptocurrency hacks that overload an individual’s computing power.” He said.

If you’re experiencing your computer running at turtle speed, perhaps try the following six actions.

1: Perform software optimization

Installing a system utility package that includes debugging tools can help you solve your computer’s slow-running problems. These optimization tools can optimize your computer by eliminating Internet garbage, improving WiFi connectivity and system responsiveness, and freeing up storage space.

2: Update your operating system

A computer’s operating system is the primary software that manages all the hardware and software on the computer. It’s important to update it regularly, Brooks says. Usually, your PC will send you a notification when it needs to be updated, and it really should.

3: Clear out the “junk” you’re not using

This is important, Brooks says. He adds that this includes “regularly cleaning up files and applications that are not needed or are causing problems.

To do this, select your primary hard drive (often called drive C) and click on Properties. Here you can see a list of items that can be deleted, such as temporary files. Go ahead and delete things that you do not use or no longer need.

4: Check Privacy Settings

If your privacy settings are low, you’ll face all kinds of network troubles that can slow down your computer. Brooks says, “You may want to check privacy settings to see who can send notifications and pop-ups that are both intrusive and slow down Web searches.”

A quick and easy way to do this: Pull up your computer’s privacy settings and change them to the highest possible option.

5: Problems with VPNs

Virtual private networks (VPNs) provide a dedicated and secure Internet connection that hides your IP address and prevents the sites you visit from tracking you; if you’ll be using the Internet heavily, it’s wise to stay connected to a VPN, especially if you’re working or shopping from home and paying bills online.

However, VPNs must direct you through other servers and therefore take a little longer than without a VPN, which can slow down your Internet connection. To fix a slow VPN connection, choose a server in a country/region near your residence, restart your router or modem, or upgrade to a premium VPN service.

6: Avoid putting your computer to bed to watch Netflix

If the computer’s fan is whirring, the computer is overheating. This can first slow down the computer, or even cause it to shut itself down, and may eventually cause long-term damage to the computer.

Dust buildup in the computer case can lead to overheating and component failure, and especially too much dust in the fan can lead to reduced cooling performance. Several ways to fix an overheating computer are to use a compressed air canister in addition to a screwdriver to remove dust and other debris that can block airflow; and to keep the laptop on a hard surface to promote airflow.

This is a bad habit and dangerous when you put the computer on the bed (or any soft surface that blocks airflow) to watch streaming programs.