From broken screens to corrupt files and everything in between, we’ve seen it all before here in the Acrylic PC Repairs office. Often, we see the same problems coming in to us to be fixed, caused by simple mistakes that could have easily been avoided. That’s why we’ve put together a list of computer mistakes we have seen over the years.

Top 10 Computer Mistakes That Will F**k Up Your Tech…

These are the 10 most common computer mistakes which people make that can leave you with a f**ked up computer or laptop. Watch out for these… 

Browse Without Protection… 

Using the Internet can be a great way to pass the time, however, it’s also a dangerous place full of viruses and malware waiting to get hold of your sensitive data and information. Without a trusted antivirus protection activated, you can’t safely browse the web. This is because malicious software can work its way into your systems without you even knowing that you clicked onto something dodgy in the first place. Before you know it, your computer will be running at a snail’s pace, clogged up and if you’re super unlucky, you may even have a completely encrypted device, and a nasty ransom email to follow. 

Not Staying Updated…

Even if you do have antivirus software, it’s still possible for malware issues to occur. Often, people make the mistake of thinking they’re protected when in actual fact, their antivirus protection or their operating system (Windows, IOS etc.) hasn’t been updated. Each time an update is released, it has new forms of protection for newly released malware. Without remaining vigilant and in date, unwanted viruses and threats can slip through the net, ultimately fucking up your computer. 

Blocking Air Vents…

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Always remember to keep your air vents open with plenty of space around them to allow optimal air flow. When air vents and fans are blocked, your computer isn’t able to ventilate properly, which in turn causes the internal parts to overheat. Once this happens, it can cause damage to the components leaving you needing to replace them. You can read more on overheating computers here.  

Not Maintaining…

When a computer is running, the vents naturally suck in dust and hair which unfortunately can’t be prevented. After a long period of time, this clogs up and creates a blanket of grime inside your computer which needs to be cleaned away. It’s very common for this to just get ignored, which is when issues begin to occur. You should always get the inside of your computer cleaned at least once a year just to ensure it’s running optimally and won’t overheat. 

Using A Wall Socket…

Plugging your computer directly into a wall socket is a bad idea. Howcome, you may ask? When you use a wall socket, there’s no surge protection which you have when using an extension. All it takes is one super quick power surge for your whole system to crash and not work properly. You can even take one more step to protect your machine by investing in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) which uses batteries during a surge or power outage to keep things running. 

Ignoring Warnings…

When one of those irritating little warning windows pop up on your screen to tell you that your disk space is running low, it’s so easy to just click ‘remind me later’ or ‘close’, we are all guilty of this at some point. However, these warnings are there for a reason. Without adequate space, your computer will undoubtedly run slowly and struggle to perform pretty much any task. In this case, the best thing you can do is delete anything you don’t need, and if your device is still full, you can look at an SSD upgrade. Remember, warnings should never be ignored and procrastination will most likely lead to you being without your laptop for longer. 

Downloading ‘Free’ Applications

There’s a plethora of ‘free’ applications out there available for you to download. A large proportion of these are illegitimate and can wreak havoc on your computer. Before downloading anything, always ensure that it’s legit, this will help to prevent accidentally downloading malware which is sure to screw you over in one way or another. 

Password Simplicity…

When creating passwords for different accounts, you should always alternate complex passwords rather than using the same one for everything. Using the same passwords makes it easier for a hacker to be able to access all of your information with just a few clicks. Similarly, using simple passwords makes it easier to guess them. By adding numbers, capital letters, special characters and random words that have no relation to your everyday life to your passwords and switching them for each account, you’ll have helped protect yourself against hackers a lot better. 

Opening Attachments…

One of the worst things you can do to your computer is open attachments without checking that the source is trusted first. It’s also the same for hyperlinks, especially in emails, texts and social media messages. When you click on these, there is a chance that it may not be what it says it is, infecting your computer with spyware or malware, which is never good. The best thing to do is remain vigilant, don’t click on anything without checking the source first, check the exact email address, the bit after the @ is the most important part, and always hover over hyperlinks before clicking on them to check exactly which web page you’re being directed to. 

Powering Off…

It’s just as important to make sure that you power off your computer the right way as it is to use it correctly. It’s super common for people to simply hold down the power button to switch it off, yet this can leave you with a mess. This is because it stops the hard drive from spinning instantly, rather than letting it gracefully power down. It can also cause corruption of your files which is a pain you don’t need. Ensure to power it off correctly to allow your computer to take the time it needs to close down. 

If you’ve made any of these mistakes, or something else has happened and now your computer is f**ked, don’t despair! We can fix it here at Acrylic PC Repairs. Simply give us a call on 01606 531631 to book in.