adware/spyware

electromag8 · February 18, 2005

This stuff has clogged up my computer so bad that it is unbearable. Does anyone recommend any software that I can pick up at Compusa to rid my computer of it????

Shotgun · February 18, 2005

This stuff has clogged up my computer so bad that it is unbearable. Does anyone recommend any software that I can pick up at Compusa to rid my computer of it????

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Microsoft has just released a free spyware program and it works great and updates itself.......Anti-Spyware software

boomer 33 · February 18, 2005

You can go to CNET and then go to the download section. Download " Spy Doctor" and "Spybot", they are free. Run them both to clean it up. They are both good but one will pick up a few that the other does not . Then get a firewall off of CNET and install it .Zone Alarm is good and free, it is worth the bucks to get Zone's security suite which is not free. It combines a firewall, virus protection, and adware pop -up protection as well. If you spend much time on the net you need it.

kirkRHughes · February 18, 2005

I downloaded the Microsoft one, seems to work good and even updates itself.

MCourson · February 18, 2005

Ditch IE or you will just get clogged up again.

electromag8 · February 18, 2005

This stuff has clogged up my computer so bad that it is unbearable. Does anyone recommend any software that I can pick up at Compusa to rid my computer of it????

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Microsoft has just released a free spyware program and it works great and updates itself.......Anti-Spyware software

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Shotgun, I downloaded it,seems much better. When I wrote the original post, I had 9 windows pop up in the minute os so it took to type it. Appreciate it, I won't have to throw my PC out the window after all!!!

Shotgun · February 18, 2005

Good thing about it is that is also prevents it from happening again.

Elwood 2000 · February 18, 2005

I second Spybot. I also have Ad-Aware.

Also, Firefox and Thunderbird are EXCELLENT and FREE. Get rid of MS driven internet stuff, most of the viruses, pop ups and other crap are made for MS driven stuff.

Get AVG Anti-virus software as well. It is free and BETTER than Nortons or McAfee!

Another thing, go to Start, then Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools, then Disc Clean Up, select your hard drive and get rid of the TONS of Temporary Internet Files that are stored on your computer. This will eliminate a ton of crap and let your 'puter work a bit more efficiently.

electromag8 · February 20, 2005

Its been 2 days since I installed the microsoft anispyware program. The spyware is not totally eliminated, but is much improved. I also have weatherbug installed on my computer and I think thats what brought half the crap into my computer. Right now instead of 50-100 pop-ups a day, I have 1-3 a day. Thats alot better.

chevy4x4trucks · February 22, 2005

electromag, get rid of weatherbug ASAP it cuases a lotta headaches.

WEFs99 · February 22, 2005

I've got both spybot and adaware. Almost all of my spyware comes in through cookies so I disable cookies except for favorite sites. This has worked for me and service pack2 stops the pop ups.

boomer 33 · February 22, 2005

Amen , Mozilla Mozilla Mozilla!! I have not had even a chance of pop-ups and the other junk while using Mozilla. Of course I run the other stuff as well.

Tex2kZR2 · February 23, 2005

Download and run Spyware Doctor 3.1

roden001 · February 24, 2005

First and foremost, whether you continue to run internet explorer or go with one of the alternative browsers, MAKE SURE YOU KEEP WINDOWS UP TO DATE!

It's easy to do. Just turn on automatic updates. Too many pc's fall prey to well known vulnerabilities that have patches waiting to be installed.

Just go to start, and then to programs. You should find windows update at the top of the list. If you can't find it, just go to www.windowsupdate.com

Also be wary of downloading and installing software that has other programs bundled. Kazaa was the worst. You couldn't install it without putting all this other crap on your comp. If you use spybot or ad-aware or any of these other programs other folks have recommended, keep in mind that these programs like Kazaa will not work once the bundled crap has been removed.

Some people put a lot of stock in defragmenting your hard drive. It can help, but don't expect a miracle. And don't bother doing it more than once every couple of months.

Here, though, is my number one recommendation to speed up a slow computer/take control of an out-of-control one:

**end all the unnecessary background processes/programs.

Most software applications install portions of the program that automatically run in the background every time you start your computer. You boot up, it takes forever, and right off the bat your computer is slow. You think, "I should shut down some of these programs to make my computer run faster." But you're not running any programs, right? You just started your computer up.

But there are oh-so-many programs running in the background. Do this:

1. hit ctrl-alt-del, and in the dialogue box that comes up, you will see a list of all processes running. Some of these are necessary and wanted, but a lot are unnecessary and unwanted. How do you tell the difference? You'd hate to click 'end task' on something that is vital.

go to www.answersthatwork.com

and click on 'task list.' They have an alphabetical listing of most anything you might find on your task list after hitting ctrl-alt-del. It tells what it is, what it does, and whether it ought to be there. If it shouldn't be there, it usually tells how to get rid of it. You might be surprised at what you find.

Keep in mind, though, that clicking 'end task' doesn't stop this problem from coming right back the next time you reboot. You need to stop these programs for good, and here's how:

2. Check your startup folder (start, programs, startup) to see if you can get by without any of the things in there. Anything in that folder will automatically load itself every time you start up your computer, usually in the background, and like I said, the more things you have going at once, the slower your expensive computer will run. Just delete anything in the folder that you don't want to have running all the time.

3. You can also check msconfig. A lot of things here will start automatically, even though they don't show up in the startup folder. Go to start, and then to 'run.' In the dialogue box, type 'msconfig'

A box will pop up. Click on the 'startup' tab at the top right. Go through the list and un-check anything you don't want loading itself every time you boot up. How do you know what's okay to un-check? Go to that website: www.answersthatwork.com

When you restart your pc after modifying the msconfig, it will say something like 'you have modified your boot-up settings. Do you want to use the modified boot every time?' I don't remember exactly how this is worded, but this is your chance to make your changes permanent, so click the box that will do just that. (could be 'yes' or 'no' depending on the wording)

4. Also, go through all the programs you have installed. Check the 'options' part of each program (sometimes called preferences). See if there's a 'load this program every time windows starts' option, and un-check it if you don't need that program to run all the time. Keep in mind that, as convenient as it may be to have Apple Quicktime already loaded and waiting for you to visit a webpage that requires it, you have to ask yourself, "is it really worth it? Maybe I save 3 seconds of extra load time when I happen to go to a webpage with a quicktime movie, but the price I pay is having Quicktime using my computer's resources ALL THE TIME.

In some software programs, if you don't uncheck this box within the program itself, it will undo whatever changes you make in other places (startup folder, msconfig). Real Player is the devil. It will do just that. I don't know how to keep Real Player from running itself automatically. I just ininstalled it. I rarely play realaudio/video files anyway. Real Player can singlehandedly turn a fast computer into a slow one.

Sorry this turned out to be a rant. Anyone feel free to correct me on anything or add to anything I've said. Hope this helps some folks. If anyone has f/u questions, just fire away.

Jon