Should You Leave Your Computer On At Night Or Turn It Off?

I frequently am asked whether a user should leave his computer on all the time or turn it off when it is not being used.

Several years ago I would have told a user to turn off his computer when it is not in use to save power.  However, with the proliferation of viruses and other threats over the past few years, I have changed my mind.

Today, anti-virus programs and anti-spyware applications need regular updating. These updates are often scheduled automatically to run in the wee hours of the morning when you are not using your computer so that performance and speed is not impacted.  If you’re using a PC, Windows also needs to be updated whenever a new security patch is released. This is usually not daily, but it may happen up to several times a month. It is important to update your computer’s operating system as soon as a patch becomes available because hackers move very quickly to reverse engineer Windows updates. As soon as an update is released, hackers will create a virus specific to that vulnerability and start looking for unprotected machines to infect and invade.

In addition to downloading operating system, anti-virus and anti-spyware updates, you should be backing up your data every day.  The best time to do this is at night when you are not using your computer.

Now when someone asks me whehter they should leave the computer on or turn it off, here is my answer:  Leave your computer over night and restart it two or three times a week to clear the memory.

For assistance in implementing this tip and more, you can contact Amanda Harper at Gaeltek, LLC | Technology Solutions in Manassas, Virginia at 703-652-4685.  You can also get more free tips, tools and information about our services, including computer support for Virginia, Washington, DC, and Maryland, at:  www.gaeltek.com.