1.) The author mentions many ways you can maintain and tune your computer. Some of these methods for windows users include using a junk-cleaning program which is a program that scans your computer for "junk files", or useless files, and allows you to delete these files from your computer. Another method for windows users is using Windows' Disk Cleanup utility which is a program that again allows users to delete "no-longer-needed-files" and reclaim free space on your harddrive. Some methods for Macintosh users include getting rid of unwanted applications which involves using a utility called AppZapper which finds and deletes all components of an unwanted application. Another method includes deleting files you no longer need which involves using a program to uncover and delete files on your computer that you no longer need. Also, another method for Macintosh users include using a maintenance utility which again uses a program which takes care of regular system maintenance.
2.) I usually use the method of manually maintaining my computer by deleting unwanted files and regularly updating my system. This has worked fairly well, as I have been able to avoid viruses and my computer still works as fast as it did when I first bought it four years ago. I have not tried any of the authors suggestions because since I have kept up with maintaining my computer I see no reason to buy a program to do what I have done manually now for four years.
3.) Data scrubbing is an error correction technique that uses a program to periodically check your computer for errors, and when errors are found the program corrects the errors using another copy of the data, one with no errors. This is important because by using this you can avoid the accumulation of errors and reduces the risk of having uncorrectable errors.
4.) A "cookie" is a text file embedded on to your computer after visiting most commercial websites. They can be a good thing for convience reasons. For example, if you visit a previously visited site, your computer can read the corresponding cookie and tell who you are. Although cookies are not always good because some advertising networks can track these cookies on your computer and can track what websites you have visited and when you visited them.
5.) "Key Logging" is the method of tracking the keys struck on your keyboard so that the person striking the keys is unaware of it. Two methods the author recommends to keep your computer free of spyware include using a free program called Lavasoft Ad-Aware Personal which catches spyware and malware after it has entered your computer and allows you to remove it after the fact. The other method is to use a program called Microsoft Windows Defender which does real time scanning and let you know right when spyware or malware has infected your computer. The author also warns that before you install any free spyware or malware removal programs to make sure the program is not itself a spyware/malware promulgator by searching the name of the program at symantec.com, which is a company that monitors malware threats.
6.) Phising is a scam that is sent to thousands of people in hopes they will fill out their personal information and click submit, so that hackers or scammers can use this information against you. Pharming is a type of identity theft that is committed when you go to a phony website. It happens when you are directed to a phony site where they again ask you for your personal information that scammers will eventually use against you.
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