Computer Hell--Help!

[cardboardbox]

I used to use Avast but switched to AVG to appease the network at work. I will consider adding the other packages suggested here.

whats the deal with your network?

[virgonomic]

whats the deal with your network?

Anti-virus software is mandatory to check e-mail / web resources (paycheque, school site) remotely. Avast not recognized/supported, AVG recognized/supported.

[cardboardbox]

Anti-virus software is mandatory to check e-mail / web resources (paycheque, school site) remotely. Avast not recognized/supported, AVG recognized/supported.

got it. I used AVG at one time but switched to Avast and have stuck with them for a few years now.

[Hornsby]

Thanks to all of you for helping me as well...my wife's computer suddenly started bogging down, and then all sorts of pop-up started running wild. The teenager had been doing things on there he shouldn't have...little twerp.

Had to do the system restore and then download and run malware bytes from safe mode...2 hours and counting now, 141 infections found so far.

Edit to add: Up to 2 hours 27 minutes, and 174 infections. WOOT!

[Don Quixote]

Great that you're up and running again.

Now you're into the world of prevention.

1. Anti-Virus
Download Microsoft Secuity Essentials. It's actually pretty good. And it's free. If you want to pay for a product I heartily recommend ESET NOD32.

Whichever you choose, install them and fun a full system scan immediately.

2. Browser
Don't know which version of Internet Explorer you're using, but a permanent move to Firefox or Chrome can only benefit you. Either one is excellent and they'll import all your favourites/bookmarks for you. Then delete that little Internet Explorer icon and don't use it again.

3. Adblock
Whether you've installed Firefox or Chrome, install the AdBlock extension. This is a little program that sits in your browser and stops ads from loading. Many infections are caused by little ads that say something like "You've got something wrong with your PC: click "FIX" to fix it!!!" and then put some nasty thing on your computer if you click it.

3. Anti-malware stuff
Spybot Search & Destroy (install and run scan)
Malwarebytes (install and run scan)

4. Computer Housecleaning
Download and install CC Cleaner. It's a fairly idiotproof cleanup program for your pc. Good practice to run it every while, say weekly or even monthly.

1. Will do. I like the part that says "free".
2. I've been using Firefox for a couple of years and will look into the AdBlock extension.
3. I have Spybot but probably haven't run it often enough. I'll look into malwarebytes.
4. Will do.

I noticed that nobody recommended Norton or McAfee. Any particular reason?

[Judge Jude]

My computer guy who rebooted my dead computer last year swears that stuff doesn't work better than the free stuff - I don't want to believe it but I keep hearing that...

[nullnor]

had this computer 2 or 3 years with no antivirus. even disable the standard firewall and windows defender (not updated) from time to time and haven't had a problem yet. that said i think i will do my first system backup after reading this. i just make every unknown program ask permission first. the standard security on vista is a big step up from 98.

[virgonomic]

I noticed that nobody recommended Norton or McAfee. Any particular reason?

1. They are not free.
2. They are resource hogs.

[amcg]

1. They are not free.
2. They are resource hogs.

In fact, it's even worse. Both tools are so crummily designed that if you want to uninstall them you need download a separate tool from the vendor because their own uninstall programs don't work.

[virgonomic]

In fact, it's even worse. Both tools are so crummily designed that if you want to uninstall them you need download a separate tool from the vendor because their own uninstall programs don't work.

I've never had that problem...that I know of. One of the first things I do for friends is remove the Norton/McAfee trial version and put AVG on.

[overkill94]

I've been a big fan of AVG until its last incarnation. My computer's getting pretty old now (got it in 2004) and since I installed the latest version of AVG I've noticed a slowness in my computer that didn't exist before. Once I go to Task Manager and shut down all the crap AVG is running it gets better, but otherwise I'm left frustrated with how long eeeeverything takes to load.

Spybot and AdAware are pretty awesome at keeping your on-line life safe though.

[Hammer]

I love my Mac. That is all.

[cardboardbox]

I've been a big fan of AVG until its last incarnation. My computer's getting pretty old now (got it in 2004) and since I installed the latest version of AVG I've noticed a slowness in my computer that didn't exist before. Once I go to Task Manager and shut down all the crap AVG is running it gets better, but otherwise I'm left frustrated with how long eeeeverything takes to load.

I'm not surprised. Developers are not making software with a 2004 machine in mind.

I know Avast allows you to disable any of the seven "shields" so that may be an idea for you to try... just enable the most important ones.

[overkill94]

You use Avast instead?

I'll have to try it out when I get back home