System Tuneup Guide

Brief Description

SyncToy helps you copy, move, rename, and delete files between folders and computers quickly and easily.

Overview:

You can get the Free SyncToy 1.4 for Windows Vista & XP download from Microsoft’s Download Center. This easy to use, customizable application helps you copy, move, rename, and delete files between folders and computers.

There is a growing number of ways we can download data to our PCs, from digital cameras & cell phones to memory sticks and MP3 players. It would be nice to have an easy way to store and manage all these different files across multiple computers. SyncToy allows you to do just that! It allows you to manage hundreds or thousands of files easily. In some cases it is necessary to regularly get copies of files from another location to add to primary location; in other cases there is a need to keep two storage locations exactly in sync. Some people prefer to manage files manually, dragging and dropping from one place to another and keeping track of whether the locations are synchronized in their heads. Others may use two or more programs to help them track their files across their comptuers.

SyncToy, a free PowerToy for Microsoft Windows Vista & Windows XP, is an easy to use, highly customizable program that helps users to do the heavy lifting involved with the copying, moving, and synchronization of different directories. Most operations can be performed with just a few clicks of the mouse, and the utility is easily customizable for your specific needs. SyncToy can manage multiple sets of folders at the same time; it can combine files from two folders or mimic renames and deletes. Unlike most other applications, SyncToy actually keeps track of renames to files and will make sure those changes get carried over to the synchronized folder.

I tried SyncToy and found it to be a very useful program. I was able to sync up the folder named “My Pictures” on my desktop computer to the folder named “My Photos” on my laptop computer. When I added or deleted any images from my desktop folder, those changes were made automatically to my laptop photos folder…are you beginning to see the convenience of this tool?

Give it a try!

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One of the easiest ways to ensure your PC & it’s data remains safe is to purchase a good UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply). UPS They are getting less expensive and can really save you a lot of headaches due to lost data or damaged hardware due to power outages & surges.

I have relied on my UPS at least a dozen times in the past year or so for emergency power to save and shutdown my PC due to power outages…and am glad I purchased one a while back!

The nicer ones can connect to your PC through a serial or USB connection, and allow for advanced monitoring and will automatically shutdown your PC for you in the event of a power failure. Of course these are the pricier models as well. A decent UPS we found and liked was the APC BE750BB 750 VA 450 Watts 10 Outlets at Newegg for $90. It does a decent job of monitoring your PC and comes with software that will shutdown your PC for you automatically in the event power fails.

UPS systems can also provide line conditioning for your system (protection against power spikes and surges), and some manufacturers even offer what is known as an ‘equipment protection’ policy that usually covers replacement costs for your equipment (from $5,000-$100,000 or more) if your PC and hardware are ever damaged while plugged into their UPS supplies. Note: Spending more money on a UPS will get you more coverage usually.

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FACTS AND FIGURES:

While statistic in 2005 indicated that most identity theft still took place off-line…we are now well into 2007, and the methods and techniques thieves have developed to steal your identity for whatever reason keep getting more sophisticated.

“Half of all identity thefts are committed by someone the victim knows. “

That means you need to be especially careful with your credit card numbers, social security card, etc. around your friends and associates (for the sake of avoiding a prolonged post, I’m assuming you can trust your immediate family members!)

• Credit card fraud was the most common form of identity theft, accounting for 28 percent of thefts reported.

• Phone or utilities fraud was next, accounting for 19 percent of identity thefts reported.

• Bank fraud followed, accounting for 18 percent of identity thefts reported.

Financial Crimes:
Identity thieves also include crimes like these in their repertoire of dirty tricks.

• They make long-term financial commitments, like taking out mortgages or buying cars, using their victim’s credit history.
• They establish, use, and abandon dozens of charge accounts—without paying.
• They may run up huge amounts of debt, then file for bankruptcy on their victim’s name, ruining their victim’s credit history and reputation.

When Money’s Not the Object:
Sometimes, the thieves aren’t after money. They may use your identity to commit crimes like these:

• They may threaten national security or commit acts of terrorism. The September 11 hijackers used fake IDs to board their planes.
• They use stolen personal information to forge military identification cards, as recently happened at an army base near Washington, DC. This was a potential threat to national security.
• They pile up traffic tickets in your name with no intent to pay them.
• They commit felonies using your identity. Victims of identity theft have been arrested, even jailed, for crimes they didn’t commit.
• They may obtain a passport in your name to bring someone into the country for any one of a number of illegal reasons—human trafficking, for example.

What Should You Do?

By now it should be apparent that preventing identity theft must be a priority for you, especially online. While you don’t have control over a merchant’s database being broken into that you recently completed an online transaction with, and having your credit card number stolen, you can prevent any kind of illegal and damaging access to your PC by prevent Spyware or Malware of any kind from installing itself on your PC.

“9 out of 10 PC’s connected to the internet have some form of Spyware installed on them.”

What is the best way to prevent Spyware? By installing a spyware program that monitors your PC in ‘real-time’ and prevents spyware from ever installing itself to begin with. THe best program we have discovered for this task is Paretologic’s Anti-Spyware download. You can get the full details on this vital PC utility here.

Want the full skinny on how else to best protect against Identity theft online and off? Download our free identity theft PDF report.

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