• Keep your computer cleaned of spyware and viruses to ensure high performance.computer image by martini from Fotolia.com
  
  Keeping your computer clean helps keep it functioning at a high-performance level and can help prevent the need for major repairs. A variety of software tools are available in many price ranges that will help you clean and maintain your computer on a regular basis. Considering these tools and learning to use them can make your computing experiences more efficient, safer and less frustrating.
  
  

Anti-Virus Software

• The most important software you can have on your system to clean it and keep it clean is a good anti-virus program. Many such programs are available. Some are free, so there is never a reason to risk the health of your computer by going on the Internet without anti-virus software. Anti-virus software not only scans and removes viruses from your computer, it can also prevent many infections from occurring.
  
  

Anti-Spyware Software

• Similar to anti-virus software is anti-spyware tools. This software isn't always good at finding and removing viruses, but it will typically remove and prevent the many thousands of spyware applications that can range in behavior from annoying to destructive. While many anti-virus programs include spyware, having a stand-alone anti-spyware option such as Ad-Aware or Spy Sweeper offers a more concentrated detections and removal of items such as key logging, spyware cookies, pop ups, and spyware designed to steal your personal information.
  
  

Registry Cleaning Tools

• The registry can become cluttered or damaged over time. nstalling and uninstalling programs can leave orphaned files behind that clog up your system and affect the way it runs. Manual editing of the registry can be dangerous. Purchase a registry tune-up program to help you keep your Windows registry free of errors, defragged, and running as smoothly as possible. A clean registry means a cleaner, more efficient computer.