spy/adware

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I was wondering if you can tell me a few good downloads that get rid of and
block spy/adware? also i have stop-sign to block viruses and was wondering if
stop sign is a good one
 
For spyware and adware use the following:
Spybot Search and Destroy.
Ad-Aware.
Pest Patrol.

For anti-virus and firewall protection use the following:
AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition.
Zone Alarm Free Edition.

Google for these and you will find them, no problems.
 
Go to www.download.com
Search for and download: "Ad-Aware" by Lavasoft and
"Spybot-Search and Destroy".
Install each program, update it, then run a full scan on
your PC. Best of all, they're free, unless you wish to
donate to the developers.
Good Luck!!
 
IE said:
I was wondering if you can tell me a few good downloads that get rid of and
block spy/adware? also i have stop-sign to block viruses and was wondering if
stop sign is a good one
Click to expand...


To deal with issues caused by any sort of "adware" and/or
"spyware,"such as Gator, Comet Cursors, Smiley Central, Xupiter,
Bonzai Buddy, or KaZaA, and their remnants, that you've deliberately
(but without understanding the consequences) installed, two products
that are quite effective (at finding and removing this type of
scumware) are Ad-Aware from www.lavasoft.de and SpyBot Search &
Destroy from www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions.
It's even possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your
system against most future intrusions. I use both and generally
perform manual scans every week or so to clean out cookies, etc.

Additionally, manual removal instructions for the most common
varieties of scumware are available here:

PC Hell Spyware and Adware Removal Help
http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml


Neither adware nor spyware, collectively known as scumware,
magically install themselves on anyone's computer. They are almost
always deliberately installed by the computer's user, as part of some
allegedly "free" service or product.

While there are some unscrupulous malware distributors out there,
who do attempt to install and exploit malware without consent, the
majority of them simply rely upon the intellectual laziness and
gullibility of the average consumer, counting on them to quickly click
past the EULA in his/her haste to get the latest in "free" cutesy
cursors, screensavers, "utilities," and/or wallpapers.

If you were to read the EULAs that accompany, and to which the
computer user must agree before the download/installation of the
"screensaver" continues, most adware and spyware, you'll find that
they _do_ have the consumer's permission to do exactly what they're
doing. In the overwhelming majority of cases, computer users have no
one to blame but themselves.

There are several essential components to computer security: a
knowledgeable and pro-active user, a properly configured firewall,
reliable and up-to-date antivirus software, and the prompt repair (via
patches, hotfixes, or service packs) of any known vulnerabilities.

The weakest link in this "equation" is, of course, the computer
user. No software manufacturer can -- nor should they be expected
to -- protect the computer user from him/herself. All too many people
have bought into the various PC/software manufacturers marketing
claims of easy computing. They believe that their computer should be
no harder to use than a toaster oven; they have neither the
inclination or desire to learn how to safely use their computer. All
too few people keep their antivirus software current, install patches
in a timely manner, or stop to really think about that cutesy link
they're about to click.

Firewalls and anti-virus applications, which should always be used
and should always be running, are important components of "safe hex,"
but they cannot, and should not be expected to, protect the computer
user from him/herself. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon each and
every computer user to learn how to secure his/her own computer.


To learn more about practicing "safe hex," start with these links:

Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp

Home Computer Security
http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/

List of Antivirus Software Vendors
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;49500

Home PC Firewall Guide
http://www.firewallguide.com/

Scumware.com
http://www.scumware.com/

The Parasite Fight
http://www.aumha.org/a/parasite.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
IE and windows said:
I was wondering if you can tell me a few good downloads that get rid of and
block spy/adware? also i have stop-sign to block viruses and was wondering if
stop sign is a good one
Click to expand...
 
ad-aware is very good as is spybot . both are free and do a good job. i
never liked stop sign. i think it had some key logging added to it
 
In
Bruce Chambers said:
IE and windows wrote:


To deal with issues caused by any sort of "adware" and/or
"spyware,"such as Gator, Comet Cursors, Smiley Central, Xupiter,
Bonzai Buddy, or KaZaA, and their remnants, that you've deliberately
(but without understanding the consequences) installed, two products
that are quite effective (at finding and removing this type of
scumware) are Ad-Aware from www.lavasoft.de and SpyBot Search &
Destroy from www.safer-networking.org/. Both have free versions.
It's even possible to use SpyBot Search & Destroy to "immunize" your
system against most future intrusions. I use both and generally
perform manual scans every week or so to clean out cookies, etc.

Additionally, manual removal instructions for the most common
varieties of scumware are available here:

PC Hell Spyware and Adware Removal Help
http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml


Neither adware nor spyware, collectively known as scumware,
magically install themselves on anyone's computer.
Click to expand...

Unless you've installed the newest version of AOL Instant Messenger, aka
AIM.

Imagine my surprise, when after downloading it because of it's webcam
functionality, I found that it had also installed something called
"Viewpoint Media Player"?

WTF?

I read the AIM TOS, the FAQ, and the Privacy Statement. Nowhere do any of
them mention the fact that you'll also be installing VMP, and there was no
option to "opt-out" of installing it while the AIM software was setting up.
I thought I must have missed it the first time, so I went back to all three
of those pages and used the "find on this page" function of IE and typed in
the word, viewpoint. Nothing.

Honestly, I don't know if Viewpoint Media Player is ratware or not, and I
really don't care as it's gone. As is AIM.

I'm just more than a little bit upset that it got installed through the
"back door" in the first place, and wanted others to know that this happens.

My questions are ..... How do they (AOL) get away with that sort of thing?
And what did I "agree" to, that allowed them to do so?

<snip>

Bill
 
Bill said:
Unless you've installed the newest version of AOL Instant Messenger, aka
AIM.

Imagine my surprise, when after downloading it because of it's webcam
functionality, I found that it had also installed something called
"Viewpoint Media Player"?

WTF?

I read the AIM TOS, the FAQ, and the Privacy Statement. Nowhere do any of
them mention the fact that you'll also be installing VMP, and there was no
option to "opt-out" of installing it while the AIM software was setting up.
I thought I must have missed it the first time, so I went back to all three
of those pages and used the "find on this page" function of IE and typed in
the word, viewpoint. Nothing.
Click to expand...


As I said in my original post, there are some unscrupulous
people/businesses out there. However, AOL is well known to always
require the installation of their own proprietary software to use any of
their "services," so an informed computer user shouldn't be too
surprised by this. Be that as it may, even simple good manners should
require advance warning.


My questions are ..... How do they (AOL) get away with that sort of thing?
And what did I "agree" to, that allowed them to do so?
Click to expand...

The AIM TOS gives them this permission, actually (emphasis mine):

"Additional Terms and Conditions for other Services or Products
You agree and understand that certain AIM Products, features and other
premium services offered by or through AIM (including services from AOL)
may be subject to *additional* terms and conditions or registration
requirements. You agree to abide by these additional terms and you
further agree that a violation of those terms while you are accessing
those products with your AIM Screen Name or through an AIM Product shall
constitute a breach of these Terms of Service."

"Changes to the Service
AOL has the right at any time to *change*, *modify*, *add* to or
discontinue or retire any aspect or feature of the AIM Products
including, but not limited to, the *software*, community areas, Content,
hours of availability, equipment needed for access or use, the maximum
disk space that will be allotted on AOL servers on your behalf either
cumulatively or for any particular service or the availability of AIM
Products on any particular device or communications service. AOL has
*no* obligation to provide you with notice of any such changes. "


Also, remember that AOL's entire business model relies primarily upon
its customers' almost total lack of technical knowledge. (AOL hasn't
been called "the Internet on training wheels" for nothing.) AOL would
not have expected its average customers to read or understand the TOS or
a EULA, or, for that matter, to even notice that something else has been
installed.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
In
As I said in my original post, there are some unscrupulous
people/businesses out there. However, AOL is well known to always
require the installation of their own proprietary software to use any
of their "services," so an informed computer user shouldn't be too
surprised by this. Be that as it may, even simple good manners should
require advance warning.
Click to expand...

That was my point. Along with the fact that *sometimes*, even if you *do*
read things you're agreeing to *carefully*, you can still get screwed over.
I don't know why, but for some reason I had expected AOL to be more
forthcoming about what they were about to install on my machine.
The AIM TOS gives them this permission, actually (emphasis mine):

"Additional Terms and Conditions for other Services or Products
You agree and understand that certain AIM Products, features and other
premium services offered by or through AIM (including services from
AOL) may be subject to *additional* terms and conditions or
registration requirements. You agree to abide by these additional
terms and you further agree that a violation of those terms while you
are accessing those products with your AIM Screen Name or through an
AIM Product shall constitute a breach of these Terms of Service."

"Changes to the Service
AOL has the right at any time to *change*, *modify*, *add* to or
discontinue or retire any aspect or feature of the AIM Products
including, but not limited to, the *software*, community areas,
Content, hours of availability, equipment needed for access or use,
the maximum disk space that will be allotted on AOL servers on your
behalf either cumulatively or for any particular service or the
availability of AIM Products on any particular device or
communications service. AOL has *no* obligation to provide you with
notice of any such changes. "
Click to expand...

So what you're saying is, that there's really no way of knowing what *else*
will be included with any particular download, from any particular vendor,
so long as they have wording like that in the TOS/EULA?
Also, remember that AOL's entire business model relies primarily upon
its customers' almost total lack of technical knowledge. (AOL hasn't
been called "the Internet on training wheels" for nothing.) AOL would
not have expected its average customers to read or understand the TOS
or a EULA, or, for that matter, to even notice that something else
has been installed.
Click to expand...

But I *did* read it/them. And I wouldn't even have cared if AIM had at
least given me the option *not* to install Viewpoint Media Player, or at
least make me aware that it was coming with the software whether I wanted it
or not. *That's* what bugs me.

I'm not real big on legislature, but there should be some kind of
International law that requires *all* vendors to disclose just *exactly*
what changes their software will make to one's machine. And it should be
*obvious*. Not buried in some, "We reserve the right to do whatever we
want, whenever we want" clause.

Sorry for the rant. I'm just not very fond of having things installed on my
machine without my knowledge or consent.
 
Bill said:
That was my point. Along with the fact that *sometimes*, even if you *do*
read things you're agreeing to *carefully*, you can still get screwed over.
I don't know why, but for some reason I had expected AOL to be more
forthcoming about what they were about to install on my machine.
Click to expand...


Why such an expectation, though? AOL's business model is predicated
upon exploiting their customers' lack of technical understanding. Given
that, why expect them to be any more ethical than any other such business?

So what you're saying is, that there's really no way of knowing what *else*
will be included with any particular download, from any particular vendor,
so long as they have wording like that in the TOS/EULA?
Click to expand...


That's pretty much it, yes. Sometimes EULAs ans TOSs have deliberately
vague passages for legitimate reasons, such as a company's inability to
predict the future or the urgent need for "hotfix" or a security patch.
In such a case, getting your permission, in advance, to change their
software simply isn't always practical. Unfortunately, less scrupulous
businesses also use these "loopholes" to their own advantage, as well.

But I *did* read it/them.
Click to expand...


And you are to be commended for so doing. Unfortunately, that TOS was
written in such a manner as to almost guarantee that your eyes would be
glazed over by the time you came to the relevant passages. There was a
whole lot of extraneous verbiage included, probably at the insistence of
an attorney or two. I found the relevant passages not because I read
the TOS in its entirety, but because I searched for words like "add,"
"change," "modify," and "software," etc.

And I wouldn't even have cared if AIM had at
least given me the option *not* to install Viewpoint Media Player, or at
least make me aware that it was coming with the software whether I wanted it
or not. *That's* what bugs me.
Click to expand...

Perfectly understandable. The practice _is_ despicable.

I'm not real big on legislature, but there should be some kind of
International law that requires *all* vendors to disclose just *exactly*
what changes their software will make to one's machine. And it should be
*obvious*. Not buried in some, "We reserve the right to do whatever we
want, whenever we want" clause.
Click to expand...

I understand your feelings, but I doubt that such legislation would
really do much good; most people won't read the warnings and
disclosures, anyway. Governments really can't - nor should they even
try, to my way of thinking - protect people from themselves. People, in
general, need to learn to be responsible for the consequences of their
own actions and decisions. (This isn't pointed at anyone in particular;
it's just a general observation.)

Besides, on exactly whom should the legislative authority fall? The
Internet is multi-national. Most software is sold internationally;
which country's laws should pertain? The United Nations lacks the
authority to govern how the hundreds of companies within each of its
member nations conduct business.

I feel that the most effective way for consumers to bring companies
like AOL into line is for consumers to "vote with their wallets." When
a company engages in business practices that you don't like, simply take
your business elsewhere. If enough people start doing this, companies
will eventually learn what does and does not hurt their bottom line.
Sadly, though, this relies upon the existence of a well-informed and
pro-active general consumer market - something I doubt we'll ever see.




--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
Bruce said:
If you were to read the EULAs that accompany, and to which the
computer user must agree before the download/installation of the
"screensaver" continues, most adware and spyware, you'll find that
they _do_ have the consumer's permission to do exactly what they're
doing. In the overwhelming majority of cases, computer users have no
one to blame but themselves.
Click to expand...

That's hardly fair IMO. Over the years EULAs have adopted a practise of
using legalese optimized for ass coverage rather than readability, making
any average EULA difficult to read and impossible to fully comprehend.
People in general do not bother to contact their lawyer every time they want
to install anything, thus most people (including myself, I am afraid) tend
to install software in the usual next-next-agree-next-finish manner.

Bill mentioned legislations about vendors disclosing what they are going to
do to your system. Such a legislation should also require this information
to be _understandable_ by basically any person able to click "I agree". In
the mean time I prefer to translate each and every EULA I come across into
the following two sentence summary: "Install at your own risk. We may or may
not screw you."

Pardon me, I just felt like ranting a little bit.
 
IE said:
I was wondering if you can tell me a few good downloads that get rid
of and block spy/adware? also i have stop-sign to block viruses and
was wondering if stop sign is a good one
Click to expand...

Tip 10...

Don't want to read all of this? Read these two links instead:

Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

What to Know Before You Download and Install Windows XP Service Pack 2
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/sp2_whattoknow.mspx


Let's take the cleanup of your computer step-by-step. Yes, it will take
up some of your time - but consider what you use your computer
for and how much you would dislike it if all of your stuff on your
computer went away because you did not "feel like" performing some
simple maintenance tasks - think of it like changing the oil in your car,
changing the air filter on your home A/C unit, paying your bills on time,
etc.

Let's go through some maintenance first that should only have to be done
once (mostly):

Tip (1):
Locate all of the software (the installation media - CDs, etc) that you
have installed on your computer. Collect these CDs into a single pile
and locate the original installation media (CDs, disks) in a central and
safe place along with their CD keys and such. Make backups of these
installation media sets using your favorite copying method (CD Burner and
application, Disk copier, etc.) You'll be glad to know that if you have
a CD burner, you may be able to use a free application to make a
duplicate copy of your CDs. One such application is ISORecorder:

ISORecorder home page (with general instructions on use):
http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm

Pre-SP2 version:
http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/IsoRecorder/download.asp

Post-SP2 beta version:
http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/download/ISORecorderV2B2.zip


Tip (2):
Empty your Internet Explorer Temporary Internet Files and make sure the
maximum size for this is small enough not to cause trouble in the future.
Empty your Temporary Internet Files and shrink the size it stores to a
size between 10MB and 360MB..

- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet Files" section, do the
following:
- Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
- Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk space to use:" to
something between 10MB and 360MB. (Betting it is MUCH larger right
now.)
- Click OK.
- Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all offline contents"
(the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this could take 2-10
minutes or more.)
- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-open Internet
Explorer.


Tip (3):
If things are running a bit slow or you have an older system
(1.5GHz or less and 256MB RAM or less) then you may want to look into
tweaking the performance a bit by turning off some of the memory
using Windows XP "prettifications". The fastest method is:

Control Panel --> System --> Advanced tab --> Performance section,
Settings button. Then choose "adjust for best performance" and you
now have a Windows 2000/98 look which turned off many of the annoying
"prettifications" in one swift action. You can play with the last
three checkboxes to get more of an XP look without many of the
other annoyances. You could also grab and install/mess with one
(or more) of the Microsoft Powertoys - TweakUI in particular:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx


Tip (4):
Understanding what a good password might be is vital to your
personal and system security. You may not need to password your home
computer, as you may have it in a locked area (your home) where no
one else has access to it. Remember, however, that locked area is
unlocked when you access the Internet unless you are taking proper
precautions. Also, you aren't always "in that locked area" when using
your computer online - meaning you likely have usernames and passwords
associated with web sites and the likes that you would prefer other
people do not discover/use. This is why you should understand and
utilize good passwords.

Good passwords are those that meet these general rules
(mileage may vary):

Passwords should contain at least six characters, and the character
string should contain at least three of these four character types:
- uppercase letters
- lowercase letters
- numerals
- nonalphanumeric characters (e.g., *, %, &, !)

Passwords should not contain your name/logon name. Passwords should
be unique to you and easy to remember. One method many people are
using today is to make up a phrase that describes a point in their
life and then turning that phrase into their password by using only
certain letters out of each word in that phrase. It's much better
than using your birthday month/year or your anniversary in a pure
sense. For example, let's say my phrase is:
"Discharged from Marines in 1964"
I could come up with this password from that:
"DifrMain64"

The password tip is in the "one time" section, but I highly
recommend you periodically change your passwords. The suggested time
varies, but I will throw out a "once in every 3 to 6 months for
every account you have."


Tip (5):
This tip is also "questionable" in the "one time" section. However,
if properly setup, this one can be pretty well ignored for most people
after the initial "fiddle-with" time.

Why you should use a computer firewall..
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/viruses/fwbenefits.mspx

You should, in some way, use a firewall. Hardware (like a nice
Cable Modem/DSL router) or software is up to you. Many use both of
these. The simplest one to use is the hardware one, as most people
don't do anything they need to configure their NAT device for and
those who do certainly will not mind fiddling with the equipment to
make things work for them. Next in the line of "simplicity" would
have to be the built-in Windows Firewall of Windows XP. In SP2 it
is turned on by default. It is not difficult to turn on in any
case, however:

Enable/Disable the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2):
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283673

More information on the Internet Connection Firewall (Pre-SP2):
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=320855

Post-SP2 Windows Firewall Information/guidance:
http://snipurl.com/atal

The trouble with the Windows Firewall is that it only keeps things
out. Truthfully, for most people who maintain their system in other
ways, this is MORE than sufficient. However, you may feel otherwise.
If you want to know when one of your applications is trying to obtain
access to the outside world so you can stop it, then you will have to
install a third-party application and configure/maintain it. I have
compiles a list with links of some of the better known/free firewalls
you can choose from:

ZoneAlarm (Free and up)
http://snipurl.com/6ohg

Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) (Free and up)
http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html

Outpost Firewall from Agnitum (Free and up)
http://www.agnitum.com/download/

Sygate Personal Firewall (Free and up)
http://smb.sygate.com/buy/download_buy.htm

Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall (~$25 and up)
http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/

BlackICE PC Protection ($39.95 and up)
http://blackice.iss.net/

Tiny Personal Firewall (~$49.00 and up)
http://www.tinysoftware.com/

Perhaps you can find the right firewall for your situation in that
list and set it up/configure it. Every firewall MAY require some
maintenance. Essentially checking for patches or upgrades (this
goes for hardware and software solutions) is the extent of this
maintenance - but you may also have to configure your firewall to
allow some traffic depending on your needs. Also, don't stack these
things. Running more than one firewall will not make you safer
- it would likely (in fact) negate some protection you gleamed
from one or the other firewalls you run.


Now that you have some of the more basic (one-time) things down..
Let's go through some of the steps you should take periodically to
maintain a healthy and stable windows computer. If you have not
done some of these things in the past, they may seem tedious at
first - however, they will become routine and some can even be
automatically scheduled.


Tip (6):
The system restore feature is a new one - first appearing in Windows
ME and then sticking around for Windows XP. It is a VERY useful
feature - if you keep it maintained and use it to your advantage.
However, remember that the system restore pretty much tells you in
the name what it protects - "system" files. Your documents, your
pictures, your stuff is NOT system files - so you should also look
into some backup solution.

I'll mainly work around Windows XP, as that is what the bulk of this
document is about. I will, however, point out a single place for you
poor souls still stuck in Windows ME where you can get information on
maintaining your system right now:

Windows ME Computer Health:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsME/using/computerhealth/articles/

Pay close attention to the sections:
(in order)
- Clean up your hard disk
- Check for errors by running ScanDisk
- Defragment your hard disk
- Roll back the clock with System Restore

Now back to the point at hand - maintaining your system restore in
Windows XP SHOULD be automatic - but I have seen the automatic go wrong
too many times not to suggest the following.. Whenever you think about
it (after doing a once-over on your machine once a month or so would
be optimal) - clear out your System Restore and create a manual
restoration point. Why? Too many times have I seen the system restore
files go currupt or get a virus in them, meaning you could not or
did not want to restore from them. By clearing it out periodically
you help prevent any corruption from happening and you make sure you
have at least one good "snapshot".
(This, of course, will erase any previous restore point you have.)

- Turn off System Restore.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310405
- Reboot.
- Turn on System Restore.
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310405
- Make a Manual Restoration Point.
http://snipurl.com/68nx

That covers your system files, but doesn't do anything for the files
that you are REALLY worried about - yours! For that you need to look
into backups. You can either manually copy your important files, folders,
documents, spreadsheets, emails, contacts, pictures, drawings and so on
to an external location (CD/DV - any disk of some sort, etc) or you can
use the backup tool that comes with Windows XP:

How To Use Backup to Back Up Files and Folders on Your Computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308422

Yes - you still need some sort of external media to store the results
on, but you could schedule the backup to occur when you are not around,
then burn the resultant data onto CD or DVD or something when you are
(while you do other things!)


Tip (7):
You should sometimes look through the list of applications that are
installed on your computer. The list MIGHT surprise you. There are more
than likely things in there you KNOW you never use - so why have them
there? There may even be things you KNOW you did not install and
certainly do not use (maybe don't WANT to use.)

This web site should help you get started at looking through this list:

How to Uninstall Programs
http://snipurl.com/8v6b

A word of warning - Do NOT uninstall anything you think you MIGHT need
in the future unless you have completed Tip (1) and have the installation
media and proper keys for use backed up somewhere safe!


Tip (8):
Patches and Updates!

This one cannot be stressed enough. It is SO simple, yet so neglected
by many people. It is especially simple for the critical Windows patches!
Microsoft put in an AUTOMATED feature for you to utilize so that you do
NOT have to worry yourself about the patching of the Operating System:

How to configure and use Automatic Updates in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306525

However, not everyone wants to be a slave to "automation", and that is
fine - as long as you are willing to do things manually. Admittedly, I
prefer this method on some of my more critical systems.

Windows Update
http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/

Go there and scan your machine for updates. Always get the critical ones
as you see them. Write down the KB###### or Q###### you see when
selecting the updates and if you have trouble over the next few days,
go into your control panel (Add/Remove Programs), match up the latest
numbers you downloaded recently (since you started noticing an issue) and
uninstall them. If there was more than one (usually is), uninstall them
one by one - with a few hours of use in between, to see if the problem
returns. Yes - the process is not perfect (updating) and can cause trouble
like I mentioned - but as you can see, the solution isn't that bad - and is
MUCH better than the alternatives.

Windows is not the only product you likely have on your PC. The
manufacturers of the other products usually have updates as well. New
versions of almost everything come out all the time - some are free, some
are pay - some you can only download if you are registered - but it is best
to check. Just go to their web pages and look under their support and
download sections. For example, for Microsoft Office update, you should
visit:

Microsoft Office Updates
http://office.microsoft.com/
(and select "downloads")

You also have hardware on your machine that requires drivers to interface
with the operating system. You have a video card that allows you to see on
your screen, a sound card that allows you to hear your PCs sound output and
so on. Visit those manufacturer web sites for the latest downloadable
drivers for your hardware/operating system. Always (IMO) get the
manufacturers hardware driver over any Microsoft offers. On the Windows
Update site I mentioned earlier, I suggest NOT getting their hardware
drivers - no matter how tempting. First - how do you know what hardware
you have in your computer? Invoice or if it is up and working now - take
inventory:

Belarc Advisor
http://belarc.com/free_download.html

EVEREST Home Edition
http://www.lavalys.com/products/download.php?pid=1&lang=en

Once you know what you have, what next? Go get the latest driver for your
hardware/OS from the manufacturer's web page. For example, let's say you
have an NVidia chipset video card or ATI video card, perhaps a Creative
Labs sound card or C-Media chipset sound card...

NVidia Video Card Drivers
http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp

ATI Video Card Drivers
http://www.atitech.com/support/driver.html

Creative Labs Sound Device
http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/

C-Media Sound Device
http://www.cmedia.com.tw/e_download_01.htm

Then install these drivers. Updated drivers are usually more stable and
may provide extra benefits/features that you really wished you had before.

As for Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP, Microsoft has made this
particular patch available in a number of ways. First, there is the
Windows Update web page above. Then there is a direct download site
and finally, you can order the FREE CD from Microsoft.

Direct Download of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP
http://snipurl.com/8bqy

Order the Free Windows XP SP2 CD
http://snipurl.com/8umo


Tip (9):
What about the dreaded word in the computer world, VIRUS?

Well, there are many products to choose from that will help you prevent
infections from these horrid little applications. Many are FREE to the
home user. Which one you choose is a matter of taste, really. I wouldn't
list one here I had not personally used - and they all work. Many people
have emotional attachments or performance issues with one or another
AntiVirus software. Try some out, read reviews and decide for yourself
which you like more:

Symantec (Norton) AntiVirus (~$11 and up)
http://www.symantec.com/nav/nav_9xnt/

Kaspersky Anti-Virus (~$49.95 and up)
http://www.kaspersky.com/products.html

Panda Antivirus Titanium (~$39.95 and up)
http://www.pandasoftware.com/
(Free Online Scanner: http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/)

AVG Anti-Virus System (Free and up)
http://www.grisoft.com/

McAfee VirusScan (~$11 and up)
http://www.mcafee.com/

AntiVir (Free and up)
http://www.free-av.com/

avast! (Free and up)
http://www.avast.com/

Trend Micro (~$49.95 and up)
http://www.trendmicro.com/en/home/us/personal.htm
(Free Online Scanner:
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp)

RAV AntiVirus Online Virus Scan (Free!)
http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/

Most of them have automatic update capabilities. You will have to
look into the features of the one you choose. Whatever one you finally
settle with - be SURE to keep it updated (I recommend at least daily) and
perform a full scan periodically (yes, it protects you actively, but a
full scan once a month at 4AM probably won't bother you.)


Tip (10):
The most rampant infestation at the current time concerns SPYWARE/ADWARE.
I hate this stuff. It has no purpose. I have seen people try to justify
it over and over - it's worthless. It slows down your PC, it can send
your private information to people you'll never meet and did I mention,
it's worthless. You need to eliminate it from your machine.

If you use P2P software, this COULD make that stop working. Find some
decent software to do the same thing - what you are currently using is
crap.

Anyway - there is no one software that cleans and immunizes you against
everything. Antivirus software - you only needed one. Firewall, you
only needed one. AntiSpyware - you may need several. I have a list and
I recommend you use at least the first 5. I know that sounds like a lot,
and you may be saying "But you said earlier that I should clean my system,
now you are telling me to install more software - 5 pieces in fact!" Okay,
I get your point, but please consider that this stuff has prevented the
install of the latest service pack for some people, it has the potential
to slow and crater your PC, it can send your private information around
the world to people you do not know - it is all around BAD.

First - make sure you have NOT installed "Rogue AntiSpyware". There are
people out there who created AntiSpyware products that actually install
spyware of their own! You need to avoid these:

Rogue/Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites
http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

Also, you can always visit this site..
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
For more updated information.

Then, my suggestion again is that you at least install the first five of
these: (Install, Run, Update, Scan with..)

Lavasoft AdAware (Free and up)
http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdn )

Spybot Search and Destroy (Free!)
http://www.safer-networking.net/en/download/index.html
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/atdk )

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner (Free!)
http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate3 )

SpywareBlaster (Free!)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate6 )

IE-SPYAD (Free!)
https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm
(How-to: http://snipurl.com/ate7 )

CWShredder (Free!)
http://www.softbasket.com/download/s_8114.shtml

Hijack This! (Free)
http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/
( Tutorial: http://hjt.wizardsofwebsites.com/ )

ToolbarCop (Free!)
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/toolbarcop.htm

Browser Security Tests
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/

Popup Tester
http://www.popuptest.com/

The Cleaner (49.95 and up)
http://www.moosoft.com/

If used properly, you should have a malware free system now. The last
two of the first five I suggest you install are immunization applications.
None of these programs (in these editions) run in the background unless you
TELL them to. The space they take up and how easy they are to use greatly
makes up for any inconvenience you may be feeling.

Unfortunately, although that will lessen your popups on the Internet/while
you are online, it won't eliminate them. I have looked at a lot of options,
seen a lot of them used in production with people who seem to attract popups
like a plague, and I only have a few other suggestions that should help.
This
one ends up serving double duty (search engine and popup stopper in one):

The Google Toolbar (Free!)
http://toolbar.google.com/

Yeah - it adds a bar to your Internet Explorer - but its a useful one. You
can search from there anytime with one of the best search engines on the
planet (IMO.) And the fact it stops most popups - wow - BONUS! If you
don't like that suggestion, then I am just going to say you go to
www.google.com and search for other options.

Please notice that Windows XP SP2 does help stop popups as well.

Another option is to use an alternative Web browser. I suggest
"Mozilla Firefox", as it has some great features and is very easy to use:

Mozilla Firefox
http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

One more suggestion is to disable your Windows Messenger service. This
service is not used frequently (if at all) by the normal home user and
in cooperation with a good firewall, is generally unnecessary. Microsoft
has instructions on how to do this for Windows XP here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp


So your machine is pretty clean and up to date now. If you use the sections
above as a guide, it should stay that way as well! There are still a few
more
little things you can do to keep your machine running in top shape.


Tip (11):
You should periodically check your hard drive(s) for errors and defragment
them. Only defragment after you have cleaned up your machine of
outside parasites and never defragment as a solution to a quirkiness in
your system. It may help speed up your system, but it should be clean
before you do this.

How to use Disk Cleanup
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310312

How to scan your disks for errors
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315265

How to Defragment your hard drives
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314848

I would personally perform the above steps at least once every three months.
For most people this should be sufficient, but if the difference you notice
afterwards is greater than you think it should be, lessen the time in
between
its schedule.. If the difference you notice is negligible, you can increase
the time.


Tip (12):
SPAM! JUNK MAIL!
This one can get annoying, just like the rest. You get 50 emails in one
sitting and 2 of them you wanted. NICE! (Not.) What can you do? Well,
although there are services out there to help you, some email
servers/services that actually do lower your spam with features built into
their servers - I still like the methods that let you be the end-decision
maker on what is spam and what is not. I have two products to suggest to
you, look at them and see if either of them suite your needs. Again, if
they don't, Google is free and available for your perusal.

SpamBayes (Free!)
http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/

Spamihilator (Free!)
http://www.spamihilator.com/

As I said, those are not your only options, but are reliable ones I have
seen function for hundreds+ people.


Tip (13):
ADVANCED TIP! Only do this once you are comfortable under the hood of your
computer!

There are lots of services on your PC that are probably turned on by default
you don't use. Why have them on? Check out these web pages to see what all
of the services you might find on your computer are and set them according
to
your personal needs. Be CAREFUL what you set to manual, and take heed and
write down as you change things! Also, don't expect a large performance
increase or anything - especially on today's 2+ GHz machines, however - I
look
at each service you set to manual as one less service you have to worry
about
someone exploiting. A year ago, I would have thought the Windows Messenger
service to be pretty safe, now I recommend (with addition of a firewall)
that most home users disable it! Yeah - this is another one you have to
work for, but your computer may speed up and/or be more secure because you
took the time. And if you document what you do as you do it, next time, it
goes MUCH faster! (or if you have to go back and re-enable things..)

Task List Programs
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

Black Viper's Service List and Opinions (XP)
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

Processes in Windows NT/2000/XP
http://www.reger24.de/prozesse/

There are also applications that AREN'T services that startup when you start
up the computer/logon. One of the better description on how to handle these
I have found here:

Startups
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php


If you follow the advice laid out above (and do some of your own research as
well, so you understand what you are doing) - your computer will stay fairly
stable and secure and you will have a more trouble-free system.
 
André Gulliksen said:
That's hardly fair IMO.
Click to expand...


Life isn't fair.

Over the years EULAs have adopted a practise of
using legalese optimized for ass coverage rather than readability, making
any average EULA difficult to read and impossible to fully comprehend.
Click to expand...


That's one of the costs of living in such a litigious society. If
people were more willing to accept the consequences of their own
mistakes, rather then looking for someone to sue every time things don't
go as they naively expected, we wouldn't be where we are now.

People in general do not bother to contact their lawyer every time they want
to install anything, thus most people (including myself, I am afraid) tend
to install software in the usual next-next-agree-next-finish manner.
Click to expand...


And businesses naturally tend to take advantage of their customers'
tendency towards intellectual laziness.





--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
In
Bruce Chambers said:
Why such an expectation, though? AOL's business model is predicated
upon exploiting their customers' lack of technical understanding. Given
that, why expect them to be any more ethical than any other
such business?
Click to expand...

As I said above, I really don't know why I thought the way I did. Point
taken, however.
That's pretty much it, yes. Sometimes EULAs ans TOSs have
deliberately vague passages for legitimate reasons, such as a
company's inability to predict the future or the urgent need for
"hotfix" or a security patch. In such a case, getting your
permission, in advance, to change their software simply isn't always
practical. Unfortunately, less scrupulous businesses also use these
"loopholes" to their own advantage, as well.
Click to expand...

And I can understand leaving the TOS/EULA open-ended as it applies to
modifying or updating the program I bargained for (AIM). What I can't
understand is how they can get away with ... I don't know what you'd call
it...."stealth-bundling"? a completely seperate and distinct application
along with it. AIM is not dependant on Viewpoint Media Player to work
properly. One has nothing to do with the other.
And you are to be commended for so doing. Unfortunately, that TOS was
written in such a manner as to almost guarantee that your eyes would
be glazed over by the time you came to the relevant passages. There
was a whole lot of extraneous verbiage included, probably at the
insistence of an attorney or two. I found the relevant passages not
because I read the TOS in its entirety, but because I searched for words
like "add,"
"change," "modify," and "software," etc.



Perfectly understandable. The practice _is_ despicable.
Click to expand...

It's way past despicable. If what you say is true, (and I've no reason to
doubt it) there's pretty-much nothing stopping vendors from installing all
forms of nastiness on our machines because we "agreed" to it through the
vague terminology of the TOS.
I understand your feelings, but I doubt that such legislation would
really do much good; most people won't read the warnings and
disclosures, anyway. Governments really can't - nor should they even
try, to my way of thinking - protect people from themselves. People,
in general, need to learn to be responsible for the consequences of
their own actions and decisions. (This isn't pointed at anyone in
particular; it's just a general observation.)
Click to expand...

Generally, I agree with you. That's why I started the last paragraph by
stating that I'm not real big on legislature. But it's getting to the point
where something needs to be done about this crap. And I for one, like to
think I'm responsible for my own actions. But how am I supposed to make an
informed decision on whether or not I'd like to try an application, if the
company I'm getting it from isn't required to tell me *up* *front* just
exactly what (if anything) else I'm getting along with their program? I
read the TOS and the EULA for AIM, and it got me nowhere. How do you deal
with a situation like that? Do you use some kind of installation monitor?
Am I supposed to take a snap-shot of my system, then install the program,
take another snap-shot, and compare the two? I'm very serious about this.
How can one readily determine what's been added/subtracted from one's
machine after installing something like AIM? Because honestly ... I would
have never even noticed that Viewpoint thingy if it hadn't added itself to
the Control Panel and the Add/Remove programs list. I was just doing some
basic maintenence when I stumbled on it, and wondered how it got there. I
knew I hadn't installed it, so I checked the dates. Sure enough it
coincided with the AIM install. A quick trip to Google then proved I wasn't
the only one upset about this.
Besides, on exactly whom should the legislative authority fall? The
Internet is multi-national. Most software is sold internationally;
which country's laws should pertain? The United Nations lacks the
authority to govern how the hundreds of companies within each of its
member nations conduct business.

I feel that the most effective way for consumers to bring companies
like AOL into line is for consumers to "vote with their wallets." When a
company engages in business practices that you don't like, simply
take your business elsewhere. If enough people start doing this,
companies will eventually learn what does and does not hurt their
bottom line. Sadly, though, this relies upon the existence of a
well-informed and pro-active general consumer market - something I
doubt we'll ever see.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid you're correct. And as previously stated, AOL has one less
customer to serve it's ads to now. Not that AIM cost me anything in the
first place.

I appreciate your input on this, Mr. Chambers. And I'll look for any reply.
But is seems as though this thread is running far astray of any form of XP
issue, so I'll drop it after this. Thanks for allowing me to vent a bit.
:-)
 
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