You don’t have to read every post in this blog to realize that running a full virus and registry scan at least once a week is as imperative as taking a bath at least once a day (I really hope that you do). We’ve devoted almost every article in this blog to campaign for PC optimization and security, and you cannot attain either if you don’t check your PC regularly for viruses and other malware.

At first glance, it seems that there’s no excuse for us to skip or fail to run a full system scan. After all, it takes just one click to scan your whole PC for malware. However, a typical hard drive contains thousands of system and other data files. Depending upon the depth or thoroughness of the scan that you’ve set, the antivirus software would generally rummage through every item in your computer. This process would definitely be time-consuming.

In this era where time is more valuable than gold, many simply cannot afford to freeze their tasks just to make way for their antivirus and anti-spyware programs to do their job. While there is such a thing as multitasking, sharing PC resources with an antivirus could be a problem since a security suite that’s running a full system scan would be very jealous of anything that tries to get the CPU’s attention.

Deadlines and other tasks should not be made as seemingly reasonable excuses to skip a full system scan. Unless you’re working 24 hours a day, there will definitely be pockets of time where your PC’s CPU would feel useless or neglected. Make use of these periods to flex your antivirus and registry scanner’s muscles. Schedule scans during lunch breaks or even after office hours. Every PC task can be done automatically, so you don’t have to baby sit the whole process. Trust everything in your anti-malware programs or to your task scheduler. It will take care of everything.

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There used to be a time when installing software in a computer means going through lots of CDs that contain the installer program of various applications. The process is fairly easy and quite convenient. However, there are instances when after reformatting your hard drive, you realize that you’ve already lost some of the optical medias that house some of your favorite software.

All is not lost, though. In fact, losing those CDs might have done you a favor as far as de-clogging your computer table is concerned. There are many software makers that already allow complete downloads of their products over their Web site. This saves you from having to wait for a few days for the spare installer disk to be thrown at your doorstep.

If you weren’t able to keep a list of the previous apps that you’ve had, you might want to visit www.filehippo.com. The Web site contains a compilation of various must-have programs that may be downloaded for free. Of course, the site excludes software that needs to be purchased, such as Vista.

Be careful when downloading anything from the Internet. Trojan-like malware which infiltrates registries abound in cyberspace. If your computer seemed to have slowed down after installing an application you’ve downloaded from the Net, then you might want to have your registry scanned and checked by a cleaner, such as RegCure. Many cases of PC slowdowns are attributed to faulty or compromised Windows registry.

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YouTube isn’t rushing to filter out copyright-protected materials in its database, and I’m sure we all know why.

Copyright owners are crying foul over the popular video-sharing Web site’s refusal or lack of effort to install programs that would sort out protected contents from its catalog. They are accusing YouTube of willfully allowing Intellectual Property Rights infringement by turning a blind eye on the illegal downloading or showing of licensed materials.

The Google subsidiary is denying the accusations, saying that it cannot install the technology because it is partly defective. The search engine giant’s Google Video is also on the watch list of various entertainment and media groups for copyright infringement.

“Doable”

While the Herculean task of filtering YouTube’s database seems to be impossible, copyright owners insist that it is not. In fact, some video-sharing Web sites have already implemented a technology that could do just that. YouTube’s competitors, such as Dailymotion.com, Guba, and Eyespot have already incorporated the innovation into their systems. Microsoft’s own video-sharing service has also started to appease copyright owners by screening its database’s contents.

The technology that is being used by YouTube’s counterparts works by creating a digital ID of a video. The Web site’s database then looks for the video that matches the ID and removes or prohibits its download or display without the consent of the copyright owner.

Still on its Infancy

The filtering system is not fool-proof, though. In fact, it failed some tests. Newteevee.com said that the program failed to detect a number of illegal downloads that they have made. However, both YouTube’s competitors and copyright owners said that the technology is still a welcome development.

Despite the installation of the new filtering system on the databases of some video-sharing Web sites, Google is still hesitant in following its competitors’ footsteps. It cited the technology’s flaws and the difficulty of implementing it in its entire network.

I’ve always advocated for the free circulation or sharing of information on the Internet. However, this should be done within the parameters set by laws. However, the problem lies not on the implementation of the laws, but on the law themselves. May are questioning of the viability or applicability of copyright laws on the Internet. The video-sharing community might get an answer from judiciary soon. Google is currently facing a $1 billion copyright infringement law suit from Viacom.

Downloading Trouble

If you’re conscious about respecting protected contents, then be your own filter by refraining from downloading licensed videos. There are thousands of alternatives on the Internet. Be very careful when downloading them, though. There are many videos which are infected with various types of malware. It’s very difficult to detect which video files are corrupted. Victims often realize too late that their PC has already been taken over by unwanted applications after downloading and playing an infected file.

If you can’t help yourself from downloading different types of files on the Internet, then at least make it a point to conduct a regular registry and virus scan on your system. An early detection of malicious codes in your Windows registry could spare you from experiencing a system crash or slowdown.

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