essential maintenance--desktop or standalone user /individuals *windows user* *ubuntu user* 1 run scandisk once a month or as required ext3 file system does this automatically 2 run windowsupdate manually or wait for slower automatic updates --once a week automatic updates 3 run defrag once a month part of ext3 File System 4 run diskclean once a week part of a cron job 5 update antivirus weekly or autoupdate no need --inbuilt security 6 keep antivirus and firewall on all the time--slowing down the computer no need --inbuilt security 7 update firewall weekly no need --inbuilt security 8 update antispyware weekly no need --inbuilt security 9 be always on the lookout for some new vulnerability etc because of the inherently insecure system less tension because of better architecture