Seeking FReeper advice on one remaining computer problem.

Self | 3/22/'11 | Zionist Conspirator

[goseminoles]

“I never have an answer, but I always learn SO much from the talented folks ?round here..”

Me too. I don’t know squat. I have a used computer that is slow as balls. But it works and am grateful. BTW, I freep on my blackberry 99% of the time..

[Jayster]

A couple of things.

Download a Free Anti-Virus from AVG and see if you really do have any virus problems on there.

http://www.cnet.com/1770-5_1-0.html?query=avg&tag=srch

If your computer is old....I suggest that you install or try out a “Live” version of a flavor of Linux.

You can download for free and install for free. Or....go to a Borders Bookstore and look at the computer mag section and get a Linux Mag that has some free Linux programs on a Disk. Some require that you install it and others let you boot from the disk and run it without any changes to your system, so you can still go back and run your Windows after you take the disk out.

You will eventually get a new computer and can have fun playing around with Linux

[Zionist Conspirator]

Do you have any other programs installed that include a firewall? They will usually disable the widows firewall in favor of their own.

Avast has eight "real time shields" but I doubt that counts. And if it did, would my computer give me a warning and ask me to re-enable the Windows firewall?

[goseminoles]

I responded to your post a week or so ago. I understand the panic of not having a puter and going to the library to “get connected”. Sucks..

[Zionist Conspirator]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will look into them (beli neder).

[Zionist Conspirator]

Seriously? A used computer? Format, reinstall Windows. Otherwise, you’re chasing your tail. You’ll never be able to trust it otherwise.

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about formatting.

[Zionist Conspirator]

If your computer is old....I suggest that you install or try out a “Live” version of a flavor of Linux.

Unfortunately, I don't know anything about installing operating systems.

[Zionist Conspirator]

I’ve used AVG but have replaced it with Avast because it’s supposedly the best free anti-virus program there is (everyone sings its praises) and AVG is allegedly a “memory hog.” At any rate, I doubt that would affect this particular problem at all.

[SPC CHEESE]

The latest version of Comodo is by no means glut-wear. And when it comes to security software the latest is almost always the best decision. Running something over 3 years old is foolish, and should never be recommended to someone; especially, when you have no info of the users knowledge.

Firefox 2 was awesome, should I rollback to avoid this glut-wear? My point is, what glut-wear are you talking about in regards to Comodo?

[cynwoody]

Go to Apple Store. Get Apple.

Good advice! I'm currently thinking of upgrading to the new MacBook with the SSD.

Download ubuntu 10.04 and install over old Windows system. Seriously.

This is also good advice and fun to do and has the advantage of costing nothing.

Of course, there's no reason not to do both. I use my MacBook Pro for development and deploy applications to Ubuntu. I run multiple Ubuntu virtual machines under Mac OS (and also in VirtualBox on a recycled Windows box). At any given time, I'll have a couple of SSH sessions to Ubuntu running in the Mac's Terminal app. Purely and simply, Macs are premium quality PC's that don't need Windows.

I can readily discern three computing devices in this illustration (from a Bank of America ad aimed at upscale customers):

None of the three are Microsoft products.

[JoeProBono]

http://www.avira.com/en/avira-free-antivirus

[Zionist Conspirator]

TomGuy, I've just visited the download site. Unfortunately, it's also an anti-virus program, and as I understand it it's not a good idea to have two anti-virus programs on a single computer. Is there some way I can get the firewall without getting the anti-virus?

By the way, it just happened again.

[screaminsunshine]

Dunno I got a new IMAC and it Humms.

[Zionist Conspirator]

Even after setting it to restart itself in the event of failure, I just had to enable my Windows firewall again.

::Sigh::

[Zionist Conspirator]

Thank you for the recommendation, but I don't need an anti-virus program. I have an anti-virus program. It's a firewall that doesn't keep shutting off that I need.

[Secret Agent Man]

Avira seems to work well for me too. Low profile, not a huge resource hog.

[Fresh Wind]

Please!
No Flame Wars!
Discuss technical issues, software, and hardware.
Don't attack people!
Don't respond to the Anti-Microsoft Thread Trolls!
PLEASE IGNORE THEM!!!

[SPC CHEESE]

It looks like your getting enough advice here, but if I were you I’d uninstall everything except Malwarebytes, and install MSE http://www.microsoft.com/security_essentials/default.aspx MSE will manage your firewall for you, with regards to keeping it turned on.

Sure, I’ve installed Linux on a few friends PC’s that were malware prone, but I would never recommend someone who has an issue with a firewall to install Ubuntu. They’ll be SOL with no PC and wind up somewhere like the Geek Squad getting hosed on an OS install. Not cool!

If you want better security on the web give up with testing all your web pages through multiple vendors and just use the NoScript http://noscript.net/ add-on for Firefox (the latest stable release, not Firefox 2.0) and you’ll never get driveby malware again.

Take this for what it’s worth. And Malwarebytes is a great second opinion scanner, and if you have the paid version you can run Malwarebytes and MSE at the same time with no conflicts.

Best regards,
Chris

[wally_bert]

Invest in Vipre and System Mechanic. Those have fixed quite a few tough customers that have come to me when people didn’ want to take a chance on copying data and reformatting out of paranoia. A few people bought them after seeing the results.

[Excellence]

I’ve worn the paint off the space bar on my blkbry.