Okay, this time I want the Ultimate Computer Help

[Eloriel]

I am sick and tired of being helpless, powerless, and at the mercy of my computer and its vulnerabilities. I want to be MASTER, not submissive peon. So I am asking once again for your help and advice.

I recently had my hard disk revamped and am now running Windows XP with "Service Pack 2." My computer guy says it has a firewall and do NOT add any other firewall because it WILL totally screw it up. Truth to tell, I wasn't that happy or comfortable with ZoneAlarm anyway, because I could never tell what the hell was going on with it (more lack of control over those computer processes happening in front of my eyes). I am running SlimBrowser which is an IE add-on (and I really like it).

This version of XP also has a feature that goes and gets critical updates whether you want them or not. (I've always been hyper-suspicious of Microsoft and avoided them for the most part, but now I have no choice -- more lack of control. Sigh.)

I did download Ad-Aware again, and I'm running it at LEAST once a day, and yes, it's finding lots of "critical objects" -- as many as 65, or more usually 16 to 25. I'm currently running it for the 2nd time today.

Why do I run it every day and why twice today? because every now and then DU pages start loading reallllly, really slowly -- and while I'm on a slow dial-up connection and I know that DU has been overburdened with traffic lately -- during these slow loading times it also takes a very long time to disconnnect (16 seconds just a few minutes ago with this most recent occurrence).

I think someone is accessing and using my machine. How the hell do I find that and prevent it? I want software that protects me from that. And I can't pay an arm and a leg for it, either.

I was going to download SpyBot again (which used to find things Ad-Aware did not), but when I went to check for the download sites, one of them wanted me to download and run something else first -- one or another virus scanners -- that sounded just a little weird to me and I backed off because of the warning/disclaimer that included sounded a little scarey and extreme.

Esp. since I got burned with Stopsign not long ago.

I have Norton, but similarly am losing faith in it because I don't have any idea what it's doing, and if I have a problem, there's NO help available, you're just on your own.

Okay, Ad-Aware just now came up with 14 new critical objects on my 2nd full system scan for today. (I might add that for the most part, I'm only surfing DU, plus a few of the articles linked to here.) I'm even giving up on the non-paid Eudora because I don't want the ads and the access I give for that (tho I do NOT like Mozilla, so if anyone has a different email client suggestion, by all means tell me -- aside from MS Outlook which I won't even OPEN let alone use). And I'm giving up on Mini-Bug (free weather station) which I absolutely LOVED for the same reason.

So, my geeky friends, what advice do you have for me -- ASIDE from Linux. Hell, I'll even do Opera if I have to.

[TroubleMan]

1. You should have kept Zonealarm. It's better than the XP firewall

Also, can you list what critical objects Ad-Aware is listing?

Also, after running Ad-Aware and Spybot, try running Bazooka Spyware and see what it comes up with:

http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/index.html?source=appvisit

[Eloriel]

5. Basically all data miners

I should write some of the names down. I will when I run it again and post it here. Adclick, for one, I think. Similar names.

[flowomo]

2. I don't know about 90 percent of your questions....

but that free weather station is probably an open door to most of the "objects" you get. Get rid of it.

[TroubleMan]

3. Weatherbug is spyware, but it's not real bad.

nt.

[Eloriel]

6. Right, plus I don't even have it on my computer -- like I said

I gave it up. But thinking about it, it really was fairly benign, so what the heck, I might just go get it again. I truly loved it. (Hmm, wonder if the paid version is as bad? I know there's no ads....?)

[Old and In the Way]

4. I agree....that's probably the culprit. Check any other "freebie"

software utilities....they're usually free because they datamine.

Zone-Alarm is good, but it is not as critical to have unless you have "always on" broadband connections.

[Eloriel]

7. The only freebies I have

are:

* Eudora (not currently using at all)

* Ad-Aware

* Real Audio -- which I know is bad, but with the old computer, I coulnd't get Media Player to work -- tried it once so far with the new computer and again, it didn't work). I should try it again. And forget QuickTime.

* Adobe Acrobat

* Internet Explorer

* Mozilla THunderbird

* Flashpeak Slimbrowser

That's it. Not much there that ought to be a problem.

[DS1]

11. Fuck. Real Media is a spyware and resource pig. Btw, see below.

:hi:

[donachiel]

12. Yeah... I run Media Player Classic

Has been working for me.

Here is a link to their site for download:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=82303&package_id=84358

[elvisbear]

8. Try these anti spyware applications.

SpywareGuard - Provides real-time protection from spyware. (catches spyware as it's trying to install)

SpywareBlaster - Prevents spyware being loaded from websites. (like activeX apps and browser hijackers and cookies)

Both of these applications are free for home use and are recommended by numerous Computer sites.
Here is an article from PCWorld by Steve Bass, who recommends both of these applications.
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,118215,00.asp

http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareguard.html
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

[Eloriel]

9. Thank you -- that's the kind of help I'm looking for

:toast:

[elvisbear]

13. You're welcome.

[DS1]

10. It's just this simple.

This might sound harsh, in fact on some levels I intend it to be, but you asked for it

If it's free or pops up in a window to download, it's spyware. You think weathermini or whatever people write this stuff because they want to?

Think about the money trail before you install something. Chances are that Slimbrowser is spyware too.

MARKETING DATA!!!!!

*write that on a rock and slam it into your forehead 4 or 5 times*

They want to know what you're looking at, so they can create bundle deals later on - or focus marketing and popups towards you.

Microsoft stuff is the exception, as is Firefox. There are other exceptions, but you have to consider what they could possibly benefit by writing software in the first place. Once you get that into your head you'll be much better off.

That tech is full of shit, yet he thinks you're likely to fuck something up and ask him to troubleshoot after you've got two firewalls running against each other. Pick one. You can turn off the Windows Firewall and use ZoneAlarm instead without a single problem. If you're comfy with ZoneAlarm as you say, use that instead.

Personally, my router filters all the bullshit out and I run an acceptable amount of spyware to gain the bennies of certain free utils I've come to peace with sharing a small amount of data. Users may vary.

Now, download SpyBot Search and Destory, it's what AdAware aspires to be, infact AdAware steals Spybot's update data. AdAware is a cheap knockoff (even though both are free - and both violate my spyware rule).

Run it. Install TeaTimer, it catches all writes or updates to your registry when you install any software one by one.

Before you forget, if it pops up and says you need or want something, you DON'T need or want it!

Those messages about your system having spyware that should be cleaned out? Installs spyware.

Those messages that say your disk is too fragmented and you want to fix it? Installs spyware.

Those messages that say you might be a major security risk about valuable data? Guess what?

Running a browser with a popup blocker covers a LOT of problems. The rest are covered by reading popups carefully. Sometimes they'll try trick you like: "Click Cancel if you don't want to remain unsecure" which when you work it out means "Clicking cancel will install our software". You have to either READ this windows or find the X to get rid of it.

Windows Update isn't the evil beast you think it is. There is a special window in the Control Panel where it will ask you if you want to let windows download and install everything automatically, or automatically download but then prompt you to install things, or prompt you to both download and then install things. Find it, padawan :evilgrin:

So, this post might sound condescending, but you wanted to become a MASTER, these are the first rules you MUST follow and know inside out. It's also because I'm tired of seeing the same fucking shit over and over again and have wished someone would hammer this shit out once and for all. Here it is.