We’re constantly reminding users to backup their data. It’s not until you hear of a severe malware attack, where a business is being ransomed over their important documents, do you realise you wish you’d stored securely them in another location.

And that’s the important point of backing up your data. It offers an additional safeguard. In the case of ransomware, the easiest solution is to simply wipe your drive and restore a cloned version of your system and you’d be back up and running within minutes.

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Improving your system productivity is essential for getting work done more swiftly. With this in mind, many of us turn to all-in-one maintenance tools so we can optimise our computer, clean junk and fully remove installed applications. It’s just easier to own one tool to perform all your key tasks.

Parallels recently launched Toolbox for Mac which offered a number of system tools from a handy drop-down menu. Frankly, when the first Toolbox was released, it offered little more than what was already available in OS X. You could quickly take a screengrab, record your screen, create an archive and more.

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Adlice Software has released RogueKiller Anti-Malware 13.0.3 alongside RogueKiller Portable 13.0.3 and RogueKillerCMD 13.0.3, a major new release of its anti-malware protection tool.

RogueKiller, which comes as a cut-down free scan-and-removal tool as well as a paid-for version offering additional features such as CLI support and automatic updates, unveils several new scanners, an overhauled scan engine and redesigned user interface, with several advanced tools and features stripped out and moved to a separate application.

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We handle support for novice computer users and you’ll be surprised how many of these customers do not understand the basics of computing. Sell them security software and many can’t install the new suite as they’ve never fully removed the previous suite. So frustrating.

The easiest solution is to employ TeamViewer and remotely advise the user via their computer than either over the phone or by email. It’s quicker to perform a task yourself than guide, which has made the likes of TeamViewer a godsend for any remote support facility.

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Should you keep your system optimised or simply allow Windows to keep your computer in-check? A few years ago, data would build, junk would collate and it was relatively easy to cause a blue screen of death or even stop Windows from booting at all, requiring a system restore.

These days Windows 10 is far better engineered and will do a good job keeping your system maintained. With this in mind, system maintenance suites are turning their hand to security, adding features to enable you to keep yourself safe and secure whilst you browse the internet (although your security software should be more than capable…).

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Mozilla has released Firefox Quantum 63.0 for desktop, along with Firefox for Android 63.0.

Like the previous release there are no major highlights to report, but both Windows and Mac users will be encouraged to update thanks to the promise of performance improvements. The Windows build will also change theme to match Light and Dark modes in Windows 10.

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Google has released Chrome 70.0 for Windows, Mac and Linux, along with Chrome for iOS 70.0. Chrome for Android 70.0 is due imminently.

The desktop version of the browser gains several new security related features to build on the major facelift unveiled in Chrome 69 to mark its tenth anniversary.

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WinStep Software Technologies has announced a $5-10 price rise across its entire range, the first since the company launched in 1999. This follows on from the company’s recent updates to its flagship products with the releases of WinStep Nexus 18.10 and WinStep Xtreme 18.10.

Despite the point release, version 18.10 unveils another raft of significant tweaks and updates, including the unveiling of a new Office theme for productivity-focussed desktops.

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Security developer Avira has released Avira Internet Security Suite 2019, a brand new version of its flagship security tool for Windows.

Version 2019 brings together all the vendor’s tools under one roof, and adds one new component to the mix: Password Manager. This comes with a Security Status feature that will alert users to global account, website and password breaches.

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We’ve worked for years with potential eye strain and it’s only recently we’re taking it seriously. The first step was Apple adding a warmer edge to the desktop panel, so by the end of the day you wouldn’t be looking at an LCD displaying sharp blue light.

Mojave introduced Dynamic Desktop, which will transition your wallpaper, so it matches both the time of day, your location and the ever-changing sunrise/sunset. Dynamic Desktop will show a bright wallpaper middle of the day, but by 10pm you’ll be seeing a nighttime scene.

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Dark mode is a fantastic addition to any operating system, enabling late-night work to more productive. We have the theme switched on as default on Windows 10, which has always suited a darker user-interface.

Apple introduced a system-wide dark mode with Mojave and some of the recent apps look hugely better on a dark background. iPhoto is a very good example, making photos pop on the dark shade and editing easier on the eyes.

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