September 1, 2007 by Linda.

If you have owned a computer for any amount of time you have heard the terms Computer Virus Spyware,and Adware. However, you might not know what any of these terms mean or what causes them. Most casual users know that no one wants them but do you know how to avoid them or remove them?

What are Viruses, Spyware and Adware?

Virus

A manmade self-replicating program or piece of code that is loaded onto your computer without your knowledge and runs against
your wishes.

Spyware

Software that gathers information about the users habits or personal information and submits information back to the originating site.

Adware

Is a type of spyware that gathers user information in order to deliver ads to their computer.

What exactly do viruses, spyware and adware do to my computer?

Viruses

Are computer programs this means that anything a normal program can do such as; deleting files, formatting a user’s hard drive, and even overwriting the BIOS, which will completely disable the computer.

Spyware

Software usually bundled with freeware and shareware programs that gathers user information via an Internet connection without the users knowledge. This type of software monitors user browsing preferences and sends information back to the originating company. Most spyware and adware software is created for collection of a users demographic, shopping preferences and browsing habits. It is important to note that some of these programs are created to target users email address, passwords, credit card and account information.

Adware

Similar to spyware in that it gathers information from a users computer without their knowledge, is typically bundled in freeware and shareware via programs downloaded from the internet. Adware causes multiple pop-up windows to appear randomly while a user is browsing typically the user does not even realize they have adware installed on their computer.

How Does a Computer Become Infected?

Computer Viruses are preventable and are caused by the user themselves.
Examples of user caused viruses are;

• Downloading and opening Email from an unknown source.
• Allowing programs to auto run on download.
• Clicking on a popup that says you must download a program in order to view the site.

Even though all of the above are ways that allow a virus into a users computer the main cause of an infected computer is out of date antivirus software.

How Can I Prevent Infection and Protect My Computer?

One of the most important ways you can protect your computer is installing, Anti-Virus Software, Ad-ware Software, a properly configured Firewall (either software or hardware), and preforming Windows updates.

However, remember that just installing them is not enough you must keep these programs up-to-date. While installing this type of software enable the the auto update feature and schedle automatic scans on a regualar schedule if the program offers these options.

Listed below are some programs to get you started on your way to a clean and secure computer

Avast Free Anti-Virus/Firewall Software

This Program is free to home users for personal use there is a charge for business related use.

Trendmicro Free Online Virus, Spyware, Adware Scanning and Removal

The online scanning and removal is offered for free the also have a great anti-virus program for sale.

Lavasoft Free Adware And Spyware Removal

This program has a free version available and also offers a Pro version for a fee.

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May 23, 2007 by gpstevens.

As a friendly reminder to my readers and friends, please do not click on, or respond to emails from websites threatening that you need to update your account information on ANY website that needs to know your personal information and or passwords or credit card info. Thos sites are almost 100% false. Delete them! Dont even click on the link. Don’t answer any phone call that wants any personal info from you regarding any personal info about an online account that you may have created. Always keep in mind that there are people out there that have nothing better to do but steal from you and they can in fact wipe you out financially. Always be suspicious, protect yourself, and remember if it sounds to good to be true it probably is too good to be true. Consider yourself warned. If you have any questions feel free to contact me via email at gpstevens@gmail.com.

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May 3, 2007 by gpstevens.

Many times when I work on peoples’ computer I notice that alot of people have installed the yahoo toolbar. Unfortunately the Yahoo tollbar adds a whole lot more to your computer than you probably want to know. I’m not going to go into a long dissertation about it but I found an article you might find interesting, and if I were you. Uninstall the Yahoo toolbar immediately.

Send this to all of your friends.

Yahoo playing both sides!!

Mike Healan
June 2, 2004

As many of you no doubt have heard, Yahoo! recently released a new toolbar which they claim detects and removes spyware. The toolbar uses technology licensed from Pest Patrol, the vendor of a popular antispyware product.

Unfortunately, it turns out that Yahoo! has decided to set the toolbar to ignore all so-called “adware”. The toolbar forces the user specifically to set it to seek out adware.

Click for full screenshot

The reason for this decision appears to be the business relationship between Overture, which is owned entirely by Yahoo!, and the Claria corporation, which creates and distributes Gator. As it turns out, Yahoo!, through Overture, provides 31% of Claria’s entire annual revenue.

A Yahoo! spokesperson tried to deflect the issue by stating that they use Pest Patrol’s antispyware technology, which itself makes a distinction between “adware” and “spyware”. However, Pest Patrol’s software does not ignore “adware” either by default or as an option. This change was made entirely by Yahoo!

The spokesperson also tried to portray the decision as one giving choice to the user. In fact, the user has the choice already when they see the results list. The user can choose which software to remove and which to leave alone. Unless, of course, they forget to check the box for adware and then they end up with no choice at all, in the matter of adware.

Yahoo! is playing both sides of the issue, with users caught in the middle. Yahoo! could legitimize the activities of such companies as Claria, WhenU.com, Lop.com and coolwebsearch.com. These are all companies who spend significant effort trying to portray their software as “adware”. In fact, the practices of all of these companies have come into question numerous times. In Utah, for instance, Gator and WhenU.com’s advertising and installation practices are illegal.

This is an unfortunate situation. Yahoo! needs to decide whose side they are on, their users or the parasites. I would encourage all users of this toolbar to express their opinion to Yahoo!. This is a beta test after all and they are soliciting opinions from their users. I say we should take them up on that offer.

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February 4, 2007 by gpstevens.

Over the past several months or more I have noticed a trend when I work on people’s computers. The most common frustration is that the computer is running slow. Many people think the solution is to re-install the operating system or re-format. While re-formatting will definately solve the problem, most of the time it’s not necessary. Think of your computer as a car or truck. The more weight you have to pull, the more stress you put on the engine and the slower the rate of acceleration.

I’ve noticed that more and more people are using browser add-ons, like the Yahoo toolbar. Now the Yahoo toolbar is nice if you really need it but most people don’t. The Yahoo toolbar adds on more crap than most people ever really use. Think about it. Do you really need the Yahoo personals button or the stock market tracker? Add on the weather and sports and on and on, and just with this simple example you can see how with just the Yahoo toolbar alone the load just got alot heavier.

Then there are those toolbars that you never even wanted, they just showed up one day. This is a classic result of spyware infestation. The most common unasked for toolbar I see is the My WebSearch bar. Most people I talk to have no idea where it came from and have no clue how to remove it. Some tool bars are so insidious you need a spyware removal tool to uninstall them like Ad-Aware or Spybot Search & Destroy. Most of these toolbars can easily be removed by going to: Start>>Control Panel>>Add/Remove Programs.

While your in the Add/Remove programs list, take a look and see if you see any programs that the computer maker put in there that you don’t even use. Like AOL for example. Besides the normal windows updates and things like Adobe Acrobat reader etc., chances are if you don’t recognize the name of something on that list you probably don’t use it and therefore don’t need it installed on your computer. It’s just adding more weight to the load. In addition to those things look for games or other applications you may have installed but don’t play or use anymore, get rid of them.

Another thing you can do to help prevent your computer from running slower is don’t download every cute little thing you see. Some examles of this are: 10,000 smileys, Bonzai Buddy, Incredimail, Cool Web Search (major spyware), any products made by Gator or GAIN, or any other sort of browser add-ons like toolbars or assistants. 99% of the time you get alot more than what you asked for.

I could go on for hours about this but I want to cover one more critical thing.

Antivirus software.

Many computers come with Norton anti-virus software already installed. Norton is a great anti-virus or AV program. In fact it’s probably the #1 AV on the market, but it comes with a price most people can’t afford and that is it’s use or abuse if you will of system resources and memory. Using Norton AV is like strapping a 800 pound gorilla on the back of your computer. Now I understand that many of you like Norton and swear by it but you have to keep one thing in mind. Can your computer handle Norton AND everything else. Sure the computer ran fine with Norton BEFORE you added all of your stuff. Now your computer is trying to carry the Gorilla+Yahoo toolbar+…. Get my point? But don’t just take my word for it, here are a couple of reviews of Norton from PC World website:

Full User Summary #1
For some strange reason, Norton decided to commit professional suicide by making its historically best sold product a resource hog in 2006. My relatively new Centrino laptop with 756 MB RAM drasticaly slowed down after installing 2006. For a while I was not aware why it was so. Eventually, Google searches revealed the NAV 2006 to be the source. After UN-installing NAV 2006 , the PC immediately gained its previous speed. I never though getting rid of a premium AV product would make me happy. Now, I am using critically acclaimed and “free” AVG anti-virus with its minimal resource usage. Intererestingly, I had been using NAV since 2000 and all older versions of Norton AV used to be great products. It is said that NAV 2007 will not have the same problems since Norton decided to listen to its customers. Nevertheless, I won’t get to try it. Also, you will need to go to Norton website and download and run Norton’s removal tool if you are installing this over the older versions of the NAV. Otherwise, NAV has this bad habit of not wanting to get out of your PC, even after the uninstall. I am now glad MS will no longer provide Kernel access to Symantec.

Full User Summary #2
horrendous. the ONLY thing i wanted was antivirus SCANNING and PROTECTION. akin to the mcafee v-shield, norton autoprotect from my previous norton AV version, 2004, was fine…onintrusive and efficient, popping up only when a threat had been detected or to notify me when and why an internet script had been blocked.but this new “norton protection center” is the worst thing known to man. it forces you to DL all the windows updates - even if you uncheck the windows update component, it still attempts this every startup (unless you CTRL + ALT + DEL, task manager, processes, and end the process wuauclt.exe that’s good lookin out ppl, trust me). it insists on running the protection center and a bunch of system processes that CANNOT be “ended,” and there is no option to disable protection center. it schedules automatic scans at inopportune times, drags down memory and RAM, and is overall negative.i used to get by with four programs to fix EVERYTHING that could ever go wrong on my computer… jay loden’s aimfix, webroot spysweeper, norton AV 2004, and registry mechanic. norton is attempting to do all of these in one, which would be nice if actually accomplished, but not at the expense of 90-95% of my processor’s capability.one of the best things about AutoUpdate was the ability to make it ManualUpdate and do it whenever. Despite turning it off, stuff still gets downloaded on my comp all the time WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.Thumbs down, 1/5 on this product.

These are just a few tips on how to keep your computer from slowing down. Always remember to keep your windows up-to-date with windows updates. Keep your spyware definitions up-to-date. Keep your Anti-Virus definitions up-to-date. Run a scan at least once a week. Check to make sure your Hard disk does not need to be defragmented at least once a month. Burn your music to CD’s and then delete the music from your hard drive. Uninstall unused programs. Read! Read! Read! Read as much information as you can before you download anything. Before you download something do a google search on it to make sure it’s legitimate and worth it, a lot of times there is something better out there. Don’t just get something because it’s advertised on a web site. Some products offer a trial version so you can check it out BEFORE you buy it.

Lastly, be nice to your PC and your PC will be nice to you.

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December 30, 2006 by gpstevens.

The following steps should speed up your PC. Do all of the steps with patience:

1. Run Disk clean-up. Then delete unused files. http://www.download.com/ad-aware-se-pers…
http://www.download.com/microsoft-window…

If you did these all at the same time, restart your computer. All these to be done once in a week if possible, depending on the frequency of use of your PC.

* Updating: (Needed only when updates are available)
14. Update your Windows by installing latest updates.
15. Update your audio & video drivers.
16. Update softwares, browsers, games that you use.

Use CCleaner to get rid of unnecessary junks:
http://www.download.com/ccleaner/3000-21…

Registry Cleaner:
http://www.download.com/tweaknow-regclea…

More info:
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10165_7-555…

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December 30, 2006 by gpstevens.

Having a computer problem? Is there something that you are curious about? If you are  having a hard time with your PC or need help adding and/or removing something to your computer, post your question here in the comments section located below this window. We will do everything we can to try and reply with the answers to your problems. Check back often for updates.

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