OT: Spyware Eliminator (repost) *LINK*

Re: OT: Spyware Eliminator (repost)

Larry

>Almost every program you install creates registry entries, Spybot S&D included. If that's your criteria for spyware, you better format your hard disk and leave it blank, don't even install the OS, which has gobs of tracking capabiltiy. In fact every CPU from the Pentium 3 on has tracking built into the chip.

If the only spyware detector/screener you use is Spybot S&D you will be surprised to find yourself infected once again, down the road. No spyware tool picks up everything. You really need to run several. I use AdAware, Spybot S&D, Spyware Blaster and Spyware Guard. They are all (completely) freeware and excellent products.

P.S. You really shouldn't give advice about technical subjects in which you obviously have no expertise.

Re: OT: Spyware Eliminator (repost)

Joel Hunnicutt

>Larry, thanks for your advise on the spyware. I do think, however, that your "PS" was far more harsh than was necessary. -E- was simply trying to pass on helpful information, as I'm sure we all would.

Re: OT: Spyware Eliminator (repost)

-e-

>although i doubt your post warrents any response (troll), i would like to advise you that under accepted programming practices, an 'uninstall' routine SHOULD remove all of its registry entries.

Other than blatant ignorance or stupidity, one might asked why such vendors would NOT remove their entries???

have a good day, troll :>)

Re: OT: Spyware Eliminator (repost)

Larry

>If you think that all or most packages remove all traces of themselves I have both a bridge and some land in Florida to sell you. Uninstall any Symantic package, then do a registry scan for "Norton" or "Symantic" or "NAV". You will find more than 100 registry entries. Most software can't uninstall cleanly for a number of reasons. The main two are 1. that the OS is so complex and varies so much from version to version and 2. there is no way for the uninstall routine to keep track of and map them all. Add that to the fact that user files are sometimes stored in the programs directories after installation, and a myriad of other factors, it's no wonder that there is dreck left after an uninstall. Let me know if you're interested in the bridge or the land.

By the way, I've been working in the field for over 30 years, so no, I'm not a troll. I simply DO happen to have the expertise.

Re: OT: Spyware Eliminator (repost)

Larry

>The problem is that the information he was passing was simply wrong, was based on uninformed opinion rather than knowledge, does encourage people to be less secure, and this latter impacts the security of us all as well as te utility of the web. Tell me you wouldn't react harshly if you were lurking on a computer site and some nerd posted that it was perfectly OK to pass 1/4" stock across a jointer using your fingers.

Re: Tell me about running processes

Ernie Miller Topeka

>I have only been running adaware and spybot (will look into the other two) but some times my machine still runns slow and some programs will quit responding I noticed when I hit cont alt del to shut down the non responding program there are 15-25 running processes most have names that just appear to be numbers and letters. I have shut several down and the machine speed picks up dramaticaly. How do you find out what these processes are and if you even need them. is there any way to get rid of them all together if not needed? Also one last question my wifes computer has some sort of program installed that creats popups it has to be a progarm as the home page is set to GOOGLE and that is suposed to stop them any idea on how to find the program and eliminate it? Thanks Ernie

Re: Tell me about running processes *LINK*

Bill Howatt

>Link below will get you free Process Explorer which may be a help but you also may have to do a bit of "investigating". I just downloaded it the other day so I am not an expert on it.

After you unzip it to a folder just double-click on the procexp.exe file and it will run. It doesn't install like a typical Windows program if I recall correctly. There is a readme file and a help file.

Bill


Process Explorer

Forgot to say

Bill Howatt

>I have about 20 running processes. My PC is networked so some have to do with it but most have recognizeable names (although if you aren't fooling with computers a bit they may not be that recognizeable).

Does you wife's PC have the Google Toolbar installed. If so, click the Options button on it and make sure the block pop-ups is checked. I don't think just having Google as your homepage blocks popups.

Bill

Re: Tell me about running processes *LINK*

Larry

>It's really hard to tell sometimes what a process is or where it comes from or what it might be doing. There is a site that is extremely useful (link supplied (I hope)). You can do a search for the executable for any running process and it will tell you what the thing is, what it does, if you need it or can or should get rid of it. I'm pretty sure that the site also explains how to get rid of the processes. The primary ways are to look in your startup folder or run msconfig and go to the startup tab. The other way involves editing the registry and I think the site explains how.


Startup Content Site

Re: Forgot to say

Ernie Miller Topeka

>Yes the pop up blocker is checked. but when setting it up Google stated that if there is a program running that installs popups that it will not block them so I'm thinking that there is a program running

Messenger?

Bill Howatt

>If you are running XP go to Control Panel Performance and Maintenance Administrative Tools Services. (I have XP Pro but Home should be similar. You also have to have administrator access to do this.

In the Services window find Messenger (transmits net send and Alerter service...) Right click select Properties and change Startup Type to Disabled.

This Messenger is not Instant Messaging but a service that was incorporated for administrators to send alerts to machines on their networks. Unfortunately others figured out how to use it for spamming.

Bill