Rogue Anti-Spyware Products

[crash]

A lot of anti-Spyware programs actually install spyware and adaware. Make sure your's is not on this list:

http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm

[partypooper]

Good one! thanks for that Crash.

[Grand Armee]

What's a really good, free, anti-spyware program Crash?

[Shaun]

Here are two of the best


a-squared Free
http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/

Ad-Aware
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/single/trialpay.php

[crash]

The two I use. Both will also take out Trojans. For daily use I use SUPER and once a week I use the heavy hitter, Spybot to get rid of anything SUPER missed.

SUPERAntispSpyware free edition:
http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html

Spybot Seach and Destroy:
http://www.download.com/Spybot-Search-Destroy/3000-8022_4-10122137.html

Be very careful of clones with very similar sounding names to Spybot Search and Destroy, so download from above only.

[JoeF]

No need, I have a MAC.

[Grand Armee]

Thanks for that Crash.


JoeF - Oh, so you're just in need of a good internet browser (ie one that views all the pages IE can), Microsoft Office (I know Mac runs it, but it runs it like a turtle runs a marathon) and pretty much everything else a computer user needs. But that's OK, Macs are so great, because you can't get viruses on them. How great they must be....why would anyone put a virus on a machine that's useless anyhow?

[Chrome Prince]

Vista is a very sick snail imho.

[JoeF]

GAyou don't like MAC's then I take it?

[crash]

Macs can't be beat for graphics work, but I'll take the upgradeable hardware versatility of a Microsoft based machines any day. XP is a great OS and easily defended with free software and a bit of common sense.
Mac's are way over-priced for what you get and apart from their notebooks, ugly as sin.

Vista is the slowest most power hungry OS ever released [forget it for gaming]. I'd like to run a duel boot XP / Linux OS, if Linux ever gets a [genuinely] user friendly version together.

[mad]

Would add AVG anti-spyware (free). Always finds a little nasty, tracking cookie and the like.

[Grand Armee]

After seeing the troubles people I know have had recently with Vista and Office 07, I am clinging to XP and Office 03 Pro as tightly as I can!!

[Grand Armee]

GAyou don't like MAC's then I take it?
I don't actually really have anything much agaist them, JoeF, I just do like to take up arms when Mac users announce, with regality and finality, statements like, "I don't have to worry, I have a Mac."

You don't hear PC users going on to Mac forums and saying, "Well, that trouble you're having with not being able to view a large number of websites properly, and your inability to run Office effectively? I don't have to worry, I have a PC."

[Chrome Prince]

Hehe that's a fair point too.

As someone who runs an IT business, I see the Vista problems everyday.

Things like -

My software won't work
My programs don't work
There are no drivers for my printer
My computer's slow
It's annoying with all the prompts

And it's a devil to work with, it just won't do what needs to be done.

I'd rather use Linux than Vista, because most programs won't work on Linux either, but it's not memory hungry, annoying or unstable.

The only advantage I see with Vista are the memory hungry graphics and menus, it's all prettier - so what????

AND all the retailed pc's are coming out with Vista, Norton and no XP drivers.

I'm going to be very busy for quite a few years!

If anyone wants to remove Vista and get their p.c. working like it should, one can solve the driver problem by going to the manufacturer's website of each component and downloading the latest XP driver.

I did that on a HP laptop that HP said there were no XP drivers for, and it runs like a dream. E.G. No drivers avialable for this model laptop, so went to Realtek and downloaded the latest Realtek audio XP bundle ;)

[Grand Armee]

Excellent advice. My HP laptop gets worked harder than a "person of African descent" in a "hostile working environment" around 100 years ago, and XP/Office 03 Pro work perfectly with it.


After what I've seen recently with Vista and Office 07, I am very scared of changing!!

[crash]

Gates should be horsewhipped for springing Vista on the unsuspected in new machines. Imagine the poor fools who ran out and paid big $$$ for it when it first came out? No wonder Gates retired!

[Chrome Prince]

My advice - don't change.

How old's XP now...6 or 7 years old and they still haven't released the final service pack, but it's only really been patched up correctly the last year or so.

How long before Vista is all patched up???

Personally, I'll skip Vista altogether, I've seen far too many problems not related to Service Packs already, to change. I'll wait and see the next generation OS and make decisions then.

By that time I'll be getting a Quad Core refrigerated PC and all new software, but not until this whole package (software and hardware) wears out and there's a reliable and advanced alternative.

[JoeF]

Fair call GA, Being a bit of a dinosaur with this sort of technology and having had nothing but trouble with my old PC, I bought a MAC. Couldn't be happier with it. probably because it only goes as fast as I do perhaps.

[stugots]

have to disagree with the vista doom & gloom

received my new dell pc 2 weeks ago & have been slowly swapping over from my old xp, which i switched off for good last sunday

all necessary software installed running no worries - even myob, still stunned at that

7yold hp laser printer works, no driver download necessary, only problems ive encountered are -

canon scanner wont work & wireless 'microsoft' mouse & keyboard combo disable the screensaver so had to swap back to dells

compared to my old xp box, it flies along, & i can highly recommend dells monitors, the 22" looks great

& most importantly all necessary punting tools & websites working as normal

[Chrome Prince]

You got lucky stugots, that's all I'll say.

[stugots]

fair enough chrome,

however the main reason i made the change is because of a couple of relatives that have been using vista for some time with limited problems,

& before making the change i visited the webs sites of all the hardware & software brands that i use & most indicated they supported vista, not a guarantee but if one does a bit of homework i suggest most problems can be avoided

certainly building ones own box with vista would most likely be a nightmare, but going with a supplier like dell (no i dont work there or own shares) has always made life a bit easier

[Chrome Prince]

I'm just going by the rapid increase in business from clients who've upgraded and call me for help.

I'm not just going on my own experiences, but feedback from a large client base. True, some people have no problems, but a large number have numerous problems.

It is also a poor use of resources, it eats up a great deal of ram.

After uninstalling Vista, a dual core computer with a gig of ram runs at least twice as fast, but closer to three times as fast.

Good luck with it, I hope you have no problems.

[DR RON]

Could someone please tell me if there is an anti virus program that will block incoming emails if theyare not from people in my address book? or if there is some way of doing it? I use outlook express. Thanks.

[crash]

To block a Sender in Outlook Express
To add an email address to the list of blocked senders in Outlook Express:

Highlight a message from the person you want to block.
Select Message | Block Sender... from the menu.
Click Yes to have all existing messages from the blocked sender deleted from the current folder.
Future messages are blocked even if you answer No to the question and keep existing messages.
Windows Mail or Outlook Express automatically adds the sender's address to the list of blocked senders.

Blocking is Not For (Against) Junk Mail
Send spammers can pick a new, different email address for every junk email they send, blocking by sender address is not effective against this annoying type of email.

Blocking Entire Domains in Outlook Express:
In addition to individual senders, you can also block whole domains in Outlook Express. And of course it is possible to remove a sender (or domain) from the list of blocked senders.

Block Messages from a Domain in Outlook Express
To add a domain to the list of blocked senders in Outlook express:

Select Tools | Message Rules | Blocked Senders List... from the menu in Outlook Express.
Click Add....
Type the domain you want to block.
Finally, click OK.


Outlook Express does not have a built-in spam filter.

You have a couple of options:

Switch email clients. Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, open source email client that does almost everything that Outlook Express does (the main exception is Hotmail support) but adds additional features such as a spam filter.

Buy a filter program, such as Cloudmark Desktop that works with Outlook and Outlook Express.

For more info. with screen shots go to "Outlook Express Tutorial - Filters, how to stop spam" http://www.webterrace.com/outlook/filter.htm

[syllabus23]

This is probably telling you something that you already know,but.............

If you are getting a heap of junk mail on a daily basis which can and does happen,and you want to get rid of it all quickly...........

click on the bottom message,,then click ...Control A.....then "delete",,it gets rid of the lot in one hit.Lol dont forget to read your personal mail first.

I always use a hotmail address for every contact other than friends and family,and a very few business contacts.

While we are on the subject of unsolicited advertising I registered on the "do not call" register over a year ago and have not had one crap phone call since.

Do Not Call Register
www.donotcall.gov.au (http://www.donotcall.gov.au)

[crash]

Could someone please tell me if there is an anti virus program that will block incoming emails if they are not from people in my address book? or if there is some way of doing it? I use outlook express. Thanks.

Although I'm not sure exactly what you wish to block, there are no programs that will "block incoming emails if they are not from people in my
address book". However, I think it can be done from within Outlook Express.

To cut a long story short, I'd recommend you have a look at this 'how too' for setting up O/E from Black Viper. He's been around a long time and highly respected: http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/Email/filter1.htm
He also has many other articles on setting up [tweaking] all Operating Systems, including Vista.

For a free Anti-Virus that has an email scanner [most AV's don't]:
Comodo antiVirus http://antivirus.comodo.com/download.html
It won't stop junk mail, but it will stop any Virus. Don't use their Firewall though as it's a bit technical, just download the Anti-virus scanner. The Comodo anti-Virus works well with the free Sunbelt Personal Firewall [by AGV].

[stugots]

While we are on the subject of unsolicited advertising I registered on the "do not call" register over a year ago and have not had one crap phone call since.

Do Not Call Register
www.donotcall.gov.au (http://www.donotcall.gov.au)

yep, did the same a while ago, was almost at the point of getting my phone number changed! the amount of ********ing **** calls every day driving me nuts, now only get1 every blue moon

[DR RON]

Crash, thanks for the comments, I think I can make a message rule to only receive mail from an individual address in my contacts list and then repeat the rule over and over again, however I was hoping there was a way of being able to do it with just one rule or find a firewall or anti virus that could do it automattically. Will check out the link you gave me ,thanks.



Syllabus23, I am also on the do not call register and it has certainly cut down the c**p phone calls, however there seem to be plenty of mobs that are on an exemption list.

[Racer]

however I was hoping there was a way of being able to do it with just one rule.

Ron,

If you don't find anything you like - maybe have a look at this App. -
it's Free - and a read of the 42 reviews on this page, plus 'Snaps' own
evaluation for any OS, excluding 'hasta la Vista' ......


http://www.snapfiles.com/reviews/Spamihilator/spami.html

[pengo]

Crash, have you tried Ubuntu? It seems alright.

I had a couple niggly issues so couldn't make the switch perm so I'm back on XP Pro, but what I saw was promising.

If you got an ATI card and a 21"+ widescreen monitor tho you'll have to make changes to the xorg.conf file to get the native res going.

[crash]

Crash, have you tried Ubuntu? It seems alright.

I had a couple niggly issues so couldn't make the switch perm so I'm back on XP Pro, but what I saw was promising.

If you got an ATI card and a 21"+ widescreen monitor tho you'll have to make changes to the xorg.conf file to get the native res going.

I've got about 10 discs of Ubantu [about 3yrs old] laying around. Too many issues with it. However, I think there is a newer version I haven't tried that's supposed to be a lot better. I'm not sure if it's a later Ubantu or called something else [?]

[pengo]

Ubuntu has a lot more polish since you've last tried it from the sound of it.

Download the livecd from their website, it runs the full os off a CD. Boots off it. It'll show you how far its come.

[crash]

Thanks for that info. pengo, I'll give it a whirl.

[DR RON]

Thanks Racer, seems like a nice program, have just installed it and will report back on its effectiveness in a few days. I usually get about 5 or 6 spam emails a day, and I'm sure they have been on lists that have been sold by the one dodgy site I inadvertly gave my personal address to by mistake.

[Chrome Prince]

This might explain my opposition to Vista

http://www.theage.com.au/news/technology/microsoft-top-brass-burned-by-vista-problems/2008/02/29/1204226975087.html

I'll never install it on any computer, neither mine, nor a client's.

When an operating system has a class action against it, you know things are bad.

[crash]

Interestingly, after I just did a clean re-install of XP a few days ago, I was
able to validate over the net. and download the updates without any validation key required!

Geez, would I love a boxful of XP disks to sell on ebay to disappointed new computer owners with Vista!