Optimize Your Computer, E-mail and WEB Use

Optimize Your Computer, E-mail, and WEB Use

Virus Protection

Windows 11 has a built-in real-time antivirus named Windows Defender. It automatically runs in the background, protecting all Windows users against viruses and other nasties. To activate, you must remove existing security software, such as Norton, McAfee, AVG… For details, refer to Uninstall 3rd-party antivirus in Windows 11

Usability

If two or more individuals use the same computer, I highly recommend setting up a User Account for each. Creating user accounts in Windows 11 is easy and offers many advantages. Our Individual Windows User Accounts & Individual E-mail Addresses page will guide you through setting up multiple user accounts.

Each user gets a personalized desktop.
It remembers your programs and can automatically log you into accounts like Gmail.
All program files are saved to the personal userspace.
Remember, each User Account needs to be backed up when doing backups.

Consider switching to Gmail as your e-mail provider.
Brilliant Gmail Features You Should Be Using. Gmail blocks SPAM, archives unlimited emails, is easy to log in to when traveling, protects your address book, has no animated web ads, is secure, always uses HTTPS (like your bank), and it’s free. Gmail makes Email easy and efficient. And maybe even fun. The Senior Tech Group will help you set it up and get started.

Each user should have an email account.
An individual Gmail account will give each user the following complimentary services:

A personal email account with an individualized address book.
Google Calendar
Google Photos
Google Docs (cloud-based word processing and spreadsheet software) has the essential features of Microsoft Word and Excel.
Google Voice – The last phone number you will ever need. All calls to this number can be made on any phone you choose. The voicemail can be transcribed and emailed to you.
Google Bookmarks – Synchronized to all computers you use.
Google Toolbar – Great web browser spell checker, e-mail checker,

Print Pages as PDFs Without Installing Extensions.

Open any web page inside Google Chrome, and press Ctrl+P to open the Print dialog.
Change the destination printer to “Save as PDF.”
Hit the Print button, and the current web page, document, or Email will instantly download as a PDF.

Alternate Browsers

Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and more natural.
Firefox Web Browser is the faster, more secure, and fully customizable way to surf the web.

Helper programs

Bitwarden allows you to create and manage unique passwords to strengthen privacy and boost productivity online from any device or location.
Bitwarden security readiness kit – Keep your Bitwarden login information in a safe place with this form

A Better Free PDF Viewer

PDF-XChange Printer Lite – Free for non-commercial use only. A hybrid conversion engine that prints to both GDI and XPS. Print to PDF from almost all Windows applications. This is the PDF viewer I use on all of my Windows computers.

Online Services

GotFreeFax.com – Free Fax Service – Fax cover page plus three pages per fax, maximum free, two free faxes per day, maximum.
magicJack PLUS costs $49.95 plus shipping and handling. – One year of free local and long-distance calling to the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands, along with all the other great magicJack features included with your initial purchase. An additional year of service is $29.95 for magicJack PLUS.
Wikipedia– Wikipedia is a free, web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia project supported by the non-profit Wikipedia Foundation.