Why Maintenance Centre

There is obviously malware, or malicious software such as viruses, spyware, trojans and rootkits, as well as security vulnerabilities are regularly found in Windows and other software such as Internet browsers. It is through them that hackers can take control of your computer and steal your data without you even noticing you.

With the Center for maintenance, you have a real headquarters to secure Windows and most effectively address those evils cons, but also to tidy in your system if needed.

To access the Maintenance Center, click the Start button and open the "Control Panel". In the window that appears, click on "System and security" and "Maintenance Center.

Two Sections in maintenance centre

The maintenance center has two main sections: Safety and Maintenance. In each, the items requiring your attention are displayed and marked with two different colors:

Yellow: a setting is not optimal
Red: the function is inactive, there is a risk

If an element of any section is marked in red, the icon of the Maintenance Center located in the notification area of the taskbar at the bottom right of the screen also displays a small white cross on Red. Click it to reveal the details of the problems identified.

In case of problems noted in the Maintenance Center, click the action button for each item. For example "Change Settings" to change a setting in Windows Update or "Scan Now" so that Windows Defender scans the hard drive to search for spyware. Follow the instructions to make the adjustment.

Automatic Updates

The service automatic update, also known as Windows Update is an important part of the Maintenance Center in Windows 7. It is through it you get right out patches (often security) issued by Microsoft for its operating system, but also updates to some of your components and device drivers. For example, Windows Update is used to receive updates of Windows Defender antispyware software.
But it was important for activation and use several different settings are available. To get there from the Maintenance Center, click the Windows Update link at the bottom left and then in the window that appears, click on the link "Change settings" in the upper left. In setting section "Important updates", we recommend you select "Install updates automatically". You can then choose the frequency of installation, daily or weekly updates if there are available. Also check the box "Receive updates recommended the same way that you can receive important updates" from the "Recommended Updates" and click "OK" to confirm.

Firewall in Maintenance Centre

Also called a firewall, this security software built into Windows protects you by blocking attempts to hackers into your computer and prevent malicious programs from sending via your Internet connection, data from your hard disk to the outside without you validate this action.

If the firewall is set correctly, no action is possible from the Maintenance Center. To access these settings, you must go through the Control Panel and choose "System and Security", "Windows Firewall" and then "Enable or disable the Windows Firewall." Here, we recommend that you check for the two proposed sections choices "Enable Windows firewall 'and' Notify me when the Windows firewall blocking the new program" are selected.

If the firewall is disabled or set incorrectly, a button "Activate Now" appears in the section in red "Firewall network" of the Maintenance Center. Click it to activate. It is a setting that we recommend, except where you want to install another software firewall. In this case, click on "Download another program firewall" and follow the instructions provided.

Finally, if a program crashes in error should have access to the Internet, click in the window for setting the firewall on the "Allow a program or feature via the Windows Firewall" and check the box for this program and click "OK".

Protection against malware

This important section covers two complementary elements: antivirus and antispyware.

Virus Protection

By default, no antivirus software is delivered with Windows 7. The manufacturer of your computer may have still installed before you sell it. But there is often a trial version that expires after a few months. In any event, if you do not have antivirus, Maintenance Center will notify you, in the Security section, with a red message "Protection Antivirus (Important). You can then click on "Find an online program to display a Web page where you can download trial versions of several antivirus software.

Protection against spyware and other malware

Unlike antivirus software, antispyware software is integrated with Windows 7. It is Windows Defender, which therefore allows to detect and remove spyware that installed without your knowledge, especially through some of the software you download. If the Maintenance Center, monitoring its activity, he proposes, however, no direct link to access it.

Open Windows Defender, click the Start button and then click Control Panel. Top right of the window that appears, in the menu "Show by", select "Large icons". Click on the icon "Windows Defender".

If a message indicating that an immediate analysis was recommended, click on "Scan Now" to launch it. You can start one at any other time by clicking on "Analyze" menu at the top of the window.

To access the options for adjusting the software, click on "Tools" "Options". Under "Automatic Analysis", check "Scan my computer automatically. Then select the frequency of this analysis, its execution time and its type, "Quick Analysis" or "Full Scan". In the "Default Actions", choose "Delete" for the four menus displayed. Finally, in the Options section of real-time protection "check" Use Real Time Protection "and the other two boxes beneath it. Click "Save" to save your changes.

Other security settings

Click on the small arrow on the right side of window maintenance center, in front of "Security" to display all parameters monitored. It found, for example, without adjustments are necessarily accessible if all goes well, information on "Internet Security Settings" and the "User Account Control".

Parameters maintenance

These are available in the "Maintenance" Maintenance Centre. Following the same principle as the "Security" does appear at first that the elements that are problematic or that are being monitored. For example, a button "Configure backup" will be offered in case you have not set your options for backing up files.The settings allow you to maintain essentially fill in troubleshooting Windows and backing up your files or system.

Maintenance Center in Windows 7