Tech Watch

Is your computer underperforming? Online activities such as downloading music, installing programs and accidentally opening strange e-mails can crimp the efficiency of even the fastest machines. Here are five steps for keeping your Windows clear:

CLEAN AND DISINFECT
Spywareprograms that covertly send information about your Web activities to third partiesis often a big reason a computer is acting sluggish. Fix it with software like Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition (download free at www.lavasoftusa.com) or Spy Sweeper 3.5 (webroot.com; $29.95 for a one-year subscription). To avoid future digital insurgencies, set your Web browser to...