Advice on adware/malware remover programs

N.Theknow

[N. Theknow]

Aw crap, new program loaded adware/malware program from Ads by Quiknowledge. What do FReepers recommend as removal/guard programs?

[N. Theknow]

Thanks to everyone. Would have thanked sooner but was busy downloading, scanning and fixing computer.

[wally_bert]

I’ve become a big fan of avast. Symantec is awful but McAfee is beyond that. Viper used to be good but I haven’t used it in years.

[Yosemitest]

With a good operating system, it will warn you BEFORE it offers you the option to install a problem program.

Also, I've run Windows from 1981 up until 2010 and the whole time, my military friends were telling me that I'd be happier with a MAC.
Like all young G.I.s I thought cheaper was better.
Finally I decided to try it, and I wish I'd have done it when I first was told to.
Boy would I have saved money on security programs, firewalls, virus protection, 2-year updates to new versions of Windows.
What an idiot I was, to hold on to Windows.

Also a very dear friend of mine got a 4 year degree in computer Science, not Computer Information Systems, and she was shocked in the programmer differences between Windows, Linux, and Mac OS II.
She told me of the Windows Operating System and how it was full of holes, never finished, and always out to sell you a "fix" or a "Newer Version".
But stick to it, if you want to waste your time AND your money.
What's it to me?
I'm just trying to save you from the mistakes I made.

[gawatchman]

I use Webroot and recommend it. Haven’t had a problem since I’ve been using it for a few years now and it is good about warning me when I try to go to websites that may contain malware.

[867V309]

VLC is free and excellent. ( 331,635 Downloads this Week)

Software from sourceforge is trustworthy, open source and they don't tolerate BS.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/vlc/?source=directory

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Thanks, didn’t know that. I already have it.

[upchuck]

Did you eventually find a safe and effective way to convert youtube videos to MP3’s?

I'm sorry for the General's problems.

Since 2010 I've had excellent success with Pazera MP4 to MP3. Fast and accurate conversions.

Two more tricks:

Let MP3gain analyze and adjust mp3 files so that they have the same volume. Using since 2005.

Use MPtrim to trim dead air from the beginning or end of your tracks. Using since 2005.

All of this software is FREE.

[upchuck]

Help out your fellow FReepers. Where did the “new program” that caused you problems come from?

[FXRP]

Malwarebytes

[SoConPubbie]

Malwarebytes is the best.

[upchuck]

If you try the suggestions in this thread and are still having problems, try AdwCleaner. More free software.

[Leaning Right]

Thank you for your MP3 post! One of the problems I've had with my MP3 collection is all the different volume levels. It looks like MP3gain might solve that.

Thanks again.

[Crusher138]

I have been working with computers since 1983. I have sold them, built them, written software for and networked them. I hated Apple. I considered it overpriced, non-compatible and people who used them were stupid.

Today, between myself and my company, I own 3 iMacs, 2 Mac Pros, two Macbooks, 4 iPads, 4 iPhones, two Mac Minis, and AppleTV.

I discovered that the price/performance difference between Mac and Windows was negligible. I also discovered that software for the Mac is generally MUCH cheaper, especially when it comes to networking and business software. We have no issues with viruses, malware, registry errors, defragmenting, or any of the other maintenance chores that are a part of using Windows in a business. We have had one hardware failure, a shared storage drive, and frankly we were overtaxing it and should have used a server.

So, to your question, what good anti-malware software would I recommend? I really couldn’t tell you, I stopped using that kind of software 6 years ago when I switched to Mac.

[upchuck]

Regarding MP3gain...

Don’t be afraid of it. Any changes it makes can be undone.

I decided to make all my tracks have a gain of 80.0db. It’s been so long since I made that decision that I can’t remember why I decided that, but it’s worked.

Get all your tracks converted from mp4 to mp3 and stick them in a folder. Use “Open folder” in MP3gain. Do an analysis. Then set the gain to your preferred setting and click track gain to set the gain for all the tracks.

Easy and quick to use.

[blueplum]

I’ve used spybot on all my computers for over a decade, if that means anything

[ifinnegan]

Malwarebytes.

[ansel12]

Boy would I have saved money on security programs, firewalls, virus protection, 2-year updates to new versions of Windows.

I have been using windows for about 20 years, and almost all that time on discarded computers from other people, and even from the alley, but I never had to pay for any security or upgrade, or anything of that sort.

I like using free security.

[Marie]

Last week I had a fight with malware that my antivirus didn’t touch. The steps to remove it included digging in the registry and a lot of people said that this STILL didn’t work.

I backed up my important files on a thumbdrive and did a system restore. That corrupted OpenOffice and I had to do an uninstall/reinstall for that, then everything was alright again.

[angryoldfatman]

Computer technician here. Another vote for Malwarebytes to get rid of sudden, acute malware/virus attacks.

http://download.cnet.com/Malwarebytes-Anti-Malware/3000-8022_4-10804572.html

I use Ccleaner at work and at home to keep garbage files down to a minimum and to clean the registry. It is also a quick way to get to the programs list to uninstall stuff.

http://download.cnet.com/CCleaner/

Both programs above are on-demand programs. You need one more anti-virus program that runs at all times to act as a gatekeeper and turn away nasties before they infect you.

I use AVG at home, it’s minimally invasive and catches a LOT of stuff.

http://download.cnet.com/AVG-AntiVirus-Free-2014/3000-2239_4-10320142.html

These are pretty much all you need to keep your computer running clean and fast.

Never, NEVER go to PC-Matic or one of those other TV-advertised websites for virus protection.

Microsoft anti-virus products are generally too weak, ineffective, and are resource hogs anyway.

You will VERY occasionally need something stronger. Viruses called “rootkits” are extremely tough to get rid of. There’s a special tool for this kind of virus called TDSSKiller. It’s another on-demand program.

http://download.cnet.com/Kaspersky-TDSSKiller/3000-2239_4-75722087.html

Combofix is the equivalent of a nuke. You only want to use it as a last resort, when ALL of the above can’t kill the infection. It can seriously affect your computer’s operation if you’re not careful.

http://download.cnet.com/Combofix/3000-8022_4-75221073.html

All of the downloads above are absolutely free. MAKE SURE TO UNCHECK ANY BOXES DOWNLOADING OTHER PRODUCTS WHILE INSTALLING THE PROGRAMS! That’s how the pay for the programs, by allowing other companies to bundle their goofy toolbars and search engines in with the regular program installation.

There you go.

[Doc91678]

Try “Avast” it’s free and it works’

www.avast.com