Bad ware and other computer nightmares to avoid.

Originally Posted by johndowe

Did you ever get an alert on your computer saying you have a virus or spyware, and you run the program scans your cpu and shows a virus or spyware, and you click remove spyware and it sais $50.00 to remove spyware?

One of my colleagues almost fell for this one a few days ago. Fortunately she asked me to take a look at her computer. I told her what I thought it was and then one of our University Computing Services techs basically reinstalled everything for her.

I've read some of your other posts. While not a "tech" myself, I work with computers all the time and know a thing or two. You have given some very good advice to people on this forum. I hope they realize it!

Andy

[johndowe]

Hi there.

That's essentially and unfortunately the only solution.

And thanks for vote of confidence.


JohnDowe.

[johndowe]

Hi there.

This is not as bad as the others but it does cause problems none the less.

Some people go on the internet and they see new programs and even if they already have a similar program, they d/l it and install it, often without needing or using it, and they continue to do this repeatedly, and then after a while they have problems, low memory, hard disk space, and slow cpu.

The thing is that everything you d/l and install takes up disk space.

And everything you install often adds programs that are loaded when win starts, so it uses memory and cpu time slowing your cpu.

Some also contain viruses and spyware or even EXTORTION WARE, and as such cause problems.

So before d/l'ing software, ask yourself, do i have a program like this? Does it do what i want? Is there something it doesn't do i would want it to do,? if it passes this "test", then you probably don't need it, and you shouldn't d/l it, if you aren't sure ask someone you know, but if you have a doubt, you should have your ansewer right there.

JohnDowe.

[johndowe]

Hi there.

There is a bit of a problem in the cpu industry, not a really serious one but it can be anoying in the end.

Often people take their cpu to a cpu store because it doesn't run as quickly as it used to, and the "selesman" there asks questions about your cpu's specs, and then suggests a ram u/g.

The thing is most people in the cpu stores are salesmen and not techs, and they "try" to solve the problem by throwin money at it, which eventually will solve the problem, but at what price?

But there are many reasons your cpu might be running slower than it was, memory can be the problem, and the more memory the better, but it is far from being the only reason, if your hard disk is almost full it will slow the cpu down, if you have a virus or spyware again it will slow your cpu down, if your hade disk is "fragmented" it wil be slower, there are ways to regain some cpu speed without spending ANY money, and they should be used before going to the cpu store.

First and foremost: Cleaning your hard disk, removing temporary files, they are suposed to be temporary, but no one (programers) bother to delete them after they no longer need them (sloppy guys, sloppy (progremers)) and when you go onto the internet, internet browsers all save all the files (pics, html etc files) on your hard drive, as to load it faster the next time, it helps but not that much with hi speed internet, you should delete them regularily, all the files you d/l also use hard disk space so if the file you d/l'ed is not what you wanted and is not useful to you delete it, there is a program in "Start Menu-All Programs-Accessories-System Tools" called "Disk Cleanup" which will delete alot of the system's temporary files and make some more free space.

Removing programs you don't use or you don't use anymore, like games you went through and no longer play, they usually use up alot of space.

Then after that you DEFRAGMENT your hard drive, when you use your computer and make a lot of files and then delete some and so on, newer files are saved on the hard disk in a fragmented way, and it makes the hard disk work harder and slower, Defrag reads your hard disk and puts all the files togather in sequential order so the access is easier for the hard disk and thus faster, Defrag is found @ "Start Menu-All Programs-Accessories-System Tools" Defrag, the program will reorganise your files to not be fragmented but it will take a several hours to do, so i suggest you start the program before bed and let it run overnight and maby even throug the work day, with the monitor and other peripherals off, and when it is finished, see the speed difference.

If it is still slow, do a virus/spyware check, if there are viruses try to have them removed, but it is usually not that easy.

If you have done this and have (relatively) alot of free disk space, you may need the ram upgrade, but if you have an older cpu like a Pentium 3 it will always be slow compared to a P4 or newer cpu.

JohnDowe.

[twistedone]

I was recently a victim of "extortion ware". Though I didn't fall for the ploy of paying money to have it removed.

I don't keep a lot of things on my hard drive that are important or can't be easily reinstalled. The things I want to keep are placed on a memory stick, or flash drive.

I solved the problem by reformatting.

Originally Posted by aw9725

One of my colleagues almost fell for this one a few days ago. Fortunately she asked me to take a look at her computer. I told her what I thought it was and then one of our University Computing Services techs basically reinstalled everything for her.

I've read some of your other posts. While not a "tech" myself, I work with computers all the time and know a thing or two. You have given some very good advice to people on this forum. I hope they realize it!

Andy

[johndowe]

Hi there.

IF YOU WANT TO REPLY TO THIS, PLEASE REPLY IN MY "I'M A PC TECH" THREAD @ http://forum.transladyboy.com/showthread.php?t=6584

This one is not that bad, and i debated if i should post it, but in the end i think it is a good thing to warn people about products that are "hazadeous" to their data and their wallets.

I strongly discourage the purchasing and use of iPods and IPhones, WHY? because, everything you want to add you have to pay, pay, and pay again, all (cell) phones have FREE ring tones, but not the iPhone, and this is true for all IPhones and iPods, to load the iPhone & iPod with music you HAVE to use iTunes, and if you want to exchange music with another iPod or iPhone, iTunes deletes your current music and only leaves you with the music in the last connected "iThing", weather or not you paid for the said music.

There are many alternatives to the iPod and iPhone, so if you want a smart phone you can get a pocket PC, or a blackberry and there are many mp3 and mp4 players that won't erase your music on the assumption that you stole the music.

JohnDowe.

[sesame]

For a good many years of Internet usage, I employed Norton, McAfee, and what not... but they all failed me. Every time after 4 or 6 months, my computer would be infected and I would have to Format the hard-drive to get rid of the pest problem! And then came the spywares, trojans and other e-vampires and hide in some corner of my machine and reproduce vigourously and wham! Another Formatting! My hard-drives would be grinded down layer by layer after each ordeal!

FINAL SOLUTION:
Now, for almost 4 years, I dont use any Antivirus or Anti-Spyware and still am free from any attacks. HOW?

All attacks come from the script level, binary script, ActiveX scripts. I simply turn them off in my browser. The machine has to ask me everytime it runs a script while surfing. When I'm in a safe site like this one which I know is free from malware, I press OK. When I'm in some new site I know nothing about, I cancel all script behavior. This turns off all animations and flash, but lets me read the web content.

In tube sites, like youtube, which are known to be safe, I allow scripts and enjoy the FLV movies! So, enjoy but dont let the monsters inside.

[merelypink]

avoid windows vista its the worst thing ever

[ila]

Originally Posted by merelypink

avoid windows vista its the worst thing ever

You are several years too late with that advice.

[johndowe]

Originally Posted by ila

You are several years too late with that advice.

Hi there.

Well Better late than never.


JohnDowe.