1.         Inadequate Virus, Malware and Spyware Protection – A recent IT survey showed that less than 47% of computers had adequate protection.  Many anti-virus programs offer little or no protection against malware, particularly PUPS (potentially unwanted programs).  Data theft, identity theft and fraud are the most common motives behind malware infestations.
2.        Poorly Managed System and Driver Updates – System performance and reliability can suffer greatly from either a lack of updates or automated updates.  Devices may not function properly because of out-of-date drivers.
3.        Out-of-Date Operating Systems – Microsoft will no long support Windows XP as of early April 2014.  This means that over time you will lose functionality if you venture online.  You will also be less protected from malicious software while online.  The older the operating system the more chances that there is a virus or viruses that will attack your system.
4.        Out-of-Date Application Software – Just like with operating systems, older software can have more security holes in them, which can make you vulnerable to attack.
5.        Inadequate or No Backup System – Less than 39 percent of all desktop computers have any backup mechanism in place.  Of the computers that have some backup in place, many don’t include all files, programs and settings.
6.        Old Hardware – Most computers were not designed for a life span of more than four to five years.  Many of the computers running Windows XP can’t run Windows 7 or 8, or they will suffer terribly in performance with these new operating systems.  The older the hardware the more likely it is that something will fail.  If that were to happen you might be faced with an emergency purchase and data recovery, which could be very expensive.
7.        No Scheduled Maintenance - Scheduling your computer maintenance ensures that it happens on your schedule not the computer’s.  Many types of maintenance can be done remotely.  Most people don’t know what needs to be done so doing it yourself is not always cost-effective.

If you have more questions about any of these, or need assistance, please contact me.

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