{"id":357935,"date":"2021-10-26T00:01:39","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T21:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/computer-a-mess-your-5-step-quick-plan-to-clean-it-up\/"},"modified":"2021-10-26T00:01:39","modified_gmt":"2021-10-25T21:01:39","slug":"computer-a-mess-your-5-step-quick-plan-to-clean-it-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/computer-a-mess-your-5-step-quick-plan-to-clean-it-up\/","title":{"rendered":"#Computer a mess? Your 5-step quick plan to clean it up"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a25995733779\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a25995733779\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/computer-a-mess-your-5-step-quick-plan-to-clean-it-up\/#1_Get_sensitive_files_off_your_desktop\" >1. Get sensitive files off your desktop\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/computer-a-mess-your-5-step-quick-plan-to-clean-it-up\/#2_Remove_programs_you_dont_need_or_use_anymore\" >2. Remove programs you don\u2019t need or use anymore\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/computer-a-mess-your-5-step-quick-plan-to-clean-it-up\/#3_Stay_up_to_date\" >3. Stay up to date\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/computer-a-mess-your-5-step-quick-plan-to-clean-it-up\/#4_Peek_at_whats_running_in_the_background\" >4. Peek at what\u2019s running in the background\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/computer-a-mess-your-5-step-quick-plan-to-clean-it-up\/#5_Dont_forget_the_outside\" >5. Don\u2019t forget the outside\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/computer-a-mess-your-5-step-quick-plan-to-clean-it-up\/#Pro_tip_Know_the_signs_youve_been_hacked\" >Pro tip: Know the signs you\u2019ve been hacked\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;<strong>#Computer a mess? Your 5-step quick plan to clean it up<\/strong>&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>Digital junk piles up too quickly. Look no further than your phone and all those blurry photos and old screenshots in your gallery. What you don\u2019t see are the invasive tracking cookies saved in your smartphone.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Clutter on your computer can be even tougher to wrangle. Start with your Recycle Bin on a PC or Trash Can on a Mac. You need to manually empty that every so often.<\/p>\n<p>Cleaning up your computer doesn\u2019t take a ton of time. But you have to do it right, smart way. I can help.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Get_sensitive_files_off_your_desktop\"><\/span>1. Get sensitive files off your desktop\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>How many documents are stored on your computer that you really wouldn\u2019t want someone else to get their hands on? I know people who have an Excel spreadsheet loaded with their passwords stored in the open on the desktop.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Maybe you keep financial records nicely organized or have a folder with all your essential medical documents. Beyond the privacy risk, think about what a pain it would be when your computer finally bites the dust. You don\u2019t want to end up in a pinch because you never saved those files someplace safer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>My recommendation: Back up anything you don\u2019t want to lose to the cloud. Whatever option you go with, adhere to what tech pros call the 3-2-1 rule. Keep three copies of your important files: two on different storage <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a> and one preserved in an off-site location. (Yes, the cloud counts.)\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If you do insist on saving private documents locally, at least give a snoop a more challenging time by naming the folder something off base like \u201cVacation Photos.\u201d Be sure your computer automatically locks when you\u2019re away and requires a password on startup, too.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Remove_programs_you_dont_need_or_use_anymore\"><\/span><strong>2. Remove programs you don\u2019t need or use anymore<\/strong>\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Programs take up a decent amount of space, so regularly clear out anything you\u2019re not using.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Beyond that, outdated <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>s could put you at risk. By keeping old programs on your computer, you\u2019re potentially leaving a door wide open for cybercriminals to slip in.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how to find space-consuming apps and uninstall them.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>On a Windows PC:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Click the\u00a0<strong>Start button<\/strong>\u00a0and look for the app or program. Press and hold (or right-click) the app and select\u00a0<strong>Uninstall<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>On a Mac:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In the top left of your screen, click the\u00a0<strong>Apple icon<\/strong>, then click\u00a0<strong>About This Mac<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Select the\u00a0<strong>Storage\u00a0<\/strong>option in the middle of the pop-up box.<\/li>\n<li>On the right-hand side, select\u00a0<strong>Manage<\/strong>. You\u2019ll see everything taking up space \u2014 and how much space it\u2019s consuming. You can also review Apple\u2019s recommendation for making space.<\/li>\n<li>On the right, click\u00a0<strong>Applications<\/strong>. Click on a program you no longer want and select\u00a0<strong>Delete\u00a0<\/strong>in the bottom right-hand corner, then confirm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Data-Breach-Button-on-Computer-Keyboard-.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Staying up to date on programs can help keep your computer safe.\" class=\"wp-image-19918431\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Data-Breach-Button-on-Computer-Keyboard-.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Data-Breach-Button-on-Computer-Keyboard-.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/Data-Breach-Button-on-Computer-Keyboard-.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Staying up to date on programs can help keep your computer safe.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images\/iStockphoto<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Stay_up_to_date\"><\/span>3. Stay up to date\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The latest version of whatever operating system you use is the safest. Updates, even minor ones, patch major security issues and vulnerabilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>One caveat: When a brand new version of an operating system rolls out, like Windows 11, it can take some time to work out the kinks. Unless you are comfortable troubleshooting new issues and rolling back to a previous version if necessary, wait a bit longer to update.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>To update Windows:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Click the\u00a0<strong>Start button<\/strong>\u00a0&gt;\u00a0<strong>Settings\u00a0<\/strong>(the gear icon).<\/li>\n<li>Select\u00a0<strong>Update &amp; Security<\/strong>\u00a0&gt;\u00a0<strong>Windows Update<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>If an update is available, select<strong>\u00a0Download &amp; install<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To update a Mac:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Click the\u00a0<strong>Apple icon<\/strong>\u00a0&gt;\u00a0<strong>System Preferences<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Select\u00a0<strong>Software Update<\/strong>\u00a0to see if there are any available updates.<\/li>\n<li>Then, click the\u00a0<strong>Restart Now<\/strong>\u00a0button.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Peek_at_whats_running_in_the_background\"><\/span><strong>4. Peek at what\u2019s running in the background<\/strong>\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Checking out your task manager or activity monitor is an excellent way to see if anything strange is happening in the background. Sudden spikes are a bad sign. If you see that your activity has shot up even though you haven\u2019t been doing anything intensive, that could be a sign your computer is infected with malware.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If you do see anything strange, run an antivirus or anti-malware scan.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Check your activity on a PC:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Press\u00a0<strong>Ctrl + Alt + Delete.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Choose\u00a0<strong>Task Manager<\/strong>. Here you can see how much of your CPU and Memory are in use. Look for any processes you don\u2019t recognize, especially those using a significant percentage of your CPU or Memory.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>See your Mac\u2019s activity:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Open a\u00a0<strong>Finder window<\/strong>, then choose the\u00a0<strong>Applications\u00a0<\/strong>folder &gt;\u00a0<strong>Utilities<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Select the\u00a0<strong>Activity Monitor<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/computer-338.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1024\" alt=\"Remember to keep your computer clean on the outside as well to prevent  dust from building up.\" class=\"wp-image-19918442\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/computer-338.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/computer-338.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/computer-338.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Remember to keep your computer clean on the outside as well to prevent  dust from building up.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Dont_forget_the_outside\"><\/span><strong>5. Don\u2019t forget the outside<\/strong>\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Cleaning up the inside of your computer is important, but don\u2019t forget the outside. Dust, dirt, and grime can get into every nook and cranny.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Apple is now selling a $19 polishing cloth, but a good old microfiber cloth is just fine to clean your screen. Just don\u2019t use scratchy paper towels. A dry cloth can wipe away most dirt and debris. For stubborn smudges and fingerprints, lightly dampen the cloth with distilled water. Never pour or spray water directly onto a screen and stay away from glass cleaner too.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I prefer pre-moistened electronics wipes. They\u2019re so easy.\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2R7eGBw\"><u>I buy a big value pack from Care Touch<\/u><\/a>. They\u2019re great on smaller screens like phones, tablets, and laptops. For TVs and bigger monitors,\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3sVbUgd\"><u>these wipes from Weiman work like a charm<\/u><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pro_tip_Know_the_signs_youve_been_hacked\"><\/span><strong>Pro tip: Know the signs you\u2019ve been hacked<\/strong>\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A cluttered computer is one thing. One infected with malware is quite another. There are a few warning signs, like the temperature of your machine. If you put a hand on the screen or keyboard and it\u2019s hotter than you remember, don\u2019t ignore it.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Malicious software can eat up storage space, overworking your processors and sending your fan into overdrive.\n                        <\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2021\/10\/25\/computer-a-mess-your-5-step-quick-plan-to-clean-it-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Computer a mess? Your 5-step quick plan to clean it up&#8221; Digital junk piles up too quickly. Look no further than your phone and all those blurry photos and old screenshots in your gallery. What you don\u2019t see are the invasive tracking cookies saved in your smartphone.\u00a0 Clutter on your computer can be even tougher&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":357936,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/10\/computer-339.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[75857,117994,78,4965],"class_list":["post-357935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-malware","tag-10-25-21","tag-computers","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357935"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357935\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/357936"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}