Tools for system optimization

Most likely, you are one of those people who regularly use a computer, tablet, smartphone or other technology. Otherwise, you probably wouldn't have thought of looking at the following category, right? Computers are no longer necessarily a luxury item these days, but the standard. It doesn't matter whether we're talking about the private or professional environment, both areas can hardly do without the use of a computer or the Internet anymore. Whether for the administration of important processes or for communication with people who are on the other side of the world, computers enrich a not inconsiderable part of our everyday lives. In order to make the current systems even more powerful, numerous tools exist that take care of different areas of a computer and optimize them. It is worth taking a look at these tools, although not every tool is suitable for every need. Accordingly, you should check beforehand exactly which improvements you want to make to your system and in which software you want to invest.

Virtualization of the system

Have you perhaps wanted to be able to use multiple operating systems or different hardware at the same time since you first started using a computer? If so, then virtualizing your system is an option. This involves creating a virtual environment within your computer that provides space for other virtual systems. These virtual systems can all, have different operating systems and exist under different hardware requirements. Basically, you divide your existing computer or server into multiple, smaller computers. The advantage to this feature is that you'll be able to run several fundamentally different processes in different systems at the same time, without consuming enormous amounts of memory or having to use a large amount of material. So you minimize both technical and manual efforts when you virtualize your system.

Suitable software is offered by the developers of VMware, whose focus is on virtualizing different systems. If you are looking for suitable tools that cover this aspect, VMware Workstation and VMware Workstation 16 Pro offer real complete solutions. If you work on a Mac, the virtualization program Parallels Desktop is particularly suitable.

Data backup and antivirus protection

If you regularly work with sensitive data, you should be able to ensure that it is not corrupted and damaged, or even lost completely. Two threats in particular are capable of ensuring data security: hacking attacks or malware, or technical malfunctions that can cause severe crashes with subsequent data loss. To avoid this, tools exist that address this issue.

Antivirus programs

A large number of antivirus tools, which basically act in the same way, take care of protection against actual threats from the Internet. Real-time scans in the background check the state of the computer and report suspicious activity immediately. A suspicious activity may be a corrupted file or it may be real malware. The file is quarantined so that you can determine the next course of action. Furthermore, a good antivirus program always accompanies you when you browse the Internet and checks the security of visited websites. If a fake is detected, the site is deemed unsafe or is infected with malware, you will be notified immediately and the site will usually be blocked.

Prevention through technical security

Another form of programs is more related to the actual backup of data and stability of the system. Here, it is not uncommon for backups to be created and stored in clouds, so that in the event of data loss, quick action can be taken to restore the lost data. Programs like Acronis Cyber Protect Home Office, which used to be called Acronis True Image, can store individual data and documents as well as entire copies of operating systems. In the event of a total failure, the computer can thus still be fully restored.

To prevent a crash early on, you can use a program like AVG TuneUp. AVG TuneUp makes sure that excess data junk and unnecessary duplicates are removed to increase your system's speed. It also regularly checks that any drivers are up to date. What you might not have known is that most often, total data loss is not caused by external hacking attacks or malware, but by technical problems or crashes. Among other things, these are triggered by outdated drivers that have severe compatibility issues with the running system. If you have missed backing up the data in such a case, it can mean drastic data loss.

Burning software and multimedia tools

Nowadays, computers are not only workstations, typewriters and calculators. Quite often whole systems are upgraded to real multimedia platforms. Movies and music should be able to be streamed in the highest quality, CDs, DVDs and Blu-Rays should be created through the process of burning and the smartphone should be able to be used as a second screen. If you intend to turn your system into a multimedia hub, then Nero Platinum will be of great help. The Nero company, whose focus has been on burning CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays for years, gives you all the tools you need with Platinum.

How to find the right tool?

Now, if you too intend to use an add-on tool, you should consider certain criteria when making your choice.

Where are your priorities?

Not every add-on tool is suitable for all tasks, so you should decide in advance which area of your system you want to optimize. Do you want to virtualize your computer or are you planning to set up a multimedia center? Will the optimization of the system take place in a professional or private environment? Define your goals and then set out to find them.

To what extent do you want to improve the system?

Similarly, not every add-on tool in a particular area covers the entire range. In terms of data security, you should therefore check whether you prefer individual aspects such as crash security or antivirus protection and want to invest more accordingly, or whether powerful overall protection is right for you. Pay particular attention to whether you often have to deal with sensitive data and to what extent it needs to be secured. Basically, however, security always comes first and the following motto applies: It is better to have "too much" data protection than too little.