stevestojan Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 My computer was f---ed. Completly. I couldnt even open IE without it "Stop Responding" I was getting more pop ups, pop unders, etc, etc. My homepage changed, etc. So, I FDisk'd it. NOw my question is, what software should I install now that the machine is "clean" to help keep it healthy. I have head of SpyBot, and AdAware... which is better, and why? What firewall do you all suggest? etc, etc. . .. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cåblelady Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 My computer was f---ed. Completly. I couldnt even open IE without it "Stop Responding" I was getting more pop ups, pop unders, etc, etc. My homepage changed, etc. So, I FDisk'd it. NOw my question is, what software should I install now that the machine is "clean" to help keep it healthy. I have head of SpyBot, and AdAware... which is better, and why? What firewall do you all suggest? etc, etc. . .. thanks 13708[/snapback] I use SpyBot AND AdAware (since they're free). They work GREAT! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Darin Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 I use SpyBot AND AdAware (since they're free). They work GREAT! 13714[/snapback] No they don't. Download Spysweeper and you'll find out how good free software really is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMadCap Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 I use the google pop up blocker, the Free AVG for virus control, and Search and Destroy... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cåblelady Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 No they don't. Download Spysweeper and you'll find out how good free software really is. 13720[/snapback] OK.....what's one more ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Darin Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 OK.....what's one more ? 13743[/snapback] Spysweeper is the only one you need for spyware. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 ... tsnbd here ... stuck down in Greenville NC ! ... nice place and people ... warm too ! ... anyways, check out "spyware blaster" "cw shredder" "hijack this" and "window washer" "tuneup utilities" and "ashampoo win optimizer" ... i use "yahoo companion" to block popups ... buy a second hard drive and use "norton ghost" to back up ... tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 ... tsnbd here ... stuck down in Greenville NC ! ... nice place and people ... warm too ! ... anyways, check out "spyware blaster" "cw shredder" "hijack this" and "window washer" "tuneup utilities" and "ashampoo win optimizer" ... i use "yahoo companion" to block popups ... buy a second hard drive and use "norton ghost" to back up ... tom 13770[/snapback] ... also, "adaware" and "spybot" as mentioned before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Rich Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 No they don't. Download Spysweeper and you'll find out how good free software really is. 13720[/snapback] I'll use all 3. On our older computer, I downloaded SpyBot and AdAware, and we were still being plagued with popups and spyware. Maybe with the Dell, we'll have better luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Darin Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 I'll use all 3. On our older computer, I downloaded SpyBot and AdAware, and we were still being plagued with popups and spyware. Maybe with the Dell, we'll have better luck. 13786[/snapback] There are issues with doing that - none of them work properly for some reason. I've had alot better luck with the subscriber version of Spysweeper than any combination of the free ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 Steve - I use Norton Anti-Virus, Adaware and ZoneAlarm Pro for protection. I also run behind a router which adds some protection. Browser and e-mail recommendations are FireFox and ThunderBird. One of the biggest sources of computer problems is malicious installs. I stay away from toolbars, third party pop up blockers and most shareware. A lot of those programs are sloppy in their installs/uninstalls and add thins you really don't need. make sure you update all the Critical WIndows patches including SP2. One last stron advice is to go to the site blackviper.com and read about the various services that Windows runs. You can turn off a number of them. One of them is Messenger Service which leads to undesired pop-ups. Turn off all the services that hey recommend turning off and tailor what runs to your needs. Turning off these services adds to your protection as well as reducing resource demand that slows down your computer. If you're careful about what you install (only reputable software), use anyone of the ad-ware programs listed n this thread (they're all good enough), use anti-virus software, a firewall and NEVER open e-mail attachments no matter who they are from, you can keep your computer clean. I've never had a spybot or a virus. Keep all these programs up-to-date too. I do my updates everyday, but I'm anal. I also back up my hard drive every week too. Good luck and safe computing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheRocks Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 check out www.spybot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheRocks Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 check out www.spybot.com 13847[/snapback] check that...they changed the address: http://safer-networking.org/en/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corp000085 Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 I use a NAT router, norton internet security 2004 pro, and spybot search and destroy. Spybot is rated as #1 by pcmagazine, or at least it was. Norton has a pop up blocker and spam blocker along with the firewall. I like the firewall because i installed kazaa for a few mp3s and then uninstalled it. However, kazaa leaves spyware behind, which is easy to disable using norton. The moral here is you'll have to spend a few extra bucks (<$50) to get a perfectly clean machine. Free spyware removal programs only go so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 here are my suggestions... http://www.debian.com http://www.slackware.com http://www.mandrake.com http://www.redhat.com http://www.freebsd.org http://www.netbsd.org http://www.openbsd.org Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wacka Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 Trash the computer and install a new G5 iMac with OSX.3.5 No spyware, no popups, no viruses. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 Trash the computer and install a new G5 iMac with OSX.3.5 No spyware, no popups, no viruses. B) 13886[/snapback] OSX.* = derivative of *BSD, see also my recommendations no viruses = not true, some mac viruses are starting to appear in response to apple's music biz. funny how the OS's whose source codes are freely available don't suffer the virus bug as much as those developed by big greedy secretive shady corporations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDBillzFan Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 S-hit, stop using IE. Download Mozilla Firefox, add the Google bar, and you've eliminated 80% of your problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fezmid Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 One thing that hasn't been drilled in yet -- if you don't currently have a router/firewall (hardware, not software), and you have broadband, GO GET ONE!!!!! For example: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detai...ronics&n=507846 This will give you the best security -- no worries of Microsoft Messanger messages, other open ports, etc, etc. Basicaly, all internet traffic will be unable to hit your machine. AVG Antivirus is good as well. If you watch what you install, you don't really need to worry about installing spyware removal software. I usually download and install Adaware once every 3-6 months, and never find anything... Mozilla is more stable than Firefox, so I use that. Firefox is the bleeding edge - usually faster, more features, etc, but more prone to crashing. Either is good. Opera (another free browser) gets good reviews as well - I've never tried it though. Hope this helps. CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Guest Posted September 1, 2004 Share Posted September 1, 2004 Thanks for the spysweeper advice.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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