McAfee is the one that released a virus killer last week that attacked a Windows file and crashed a great many computers. Sounds like just the program we need.

I used AVG for years, but I noticed that it almost never caught malware. A few months ago, I switched to Comodo Internet Security (CIS). It's free, it works well. Its only problem is the occasional false positive, but it will keep you safe.

I also scan with MalWareBytes every few days. This is one of the very best anti-malware programs, recommended to me by pros, though it's a scanner only. It will catch things no other program does. No real-time protection, which is why I use CIS.

Hope you use the Immunization feature of SpyBot. Every time there's an update, you need to re-immunize.

Kaspersky is the best for me. It doesn't slow down my system like Norton and seems to catch everything. HijackTHis is a free download that is very helpfull in REMOVING malicious software since it lets you shut down those pesky little programs to delete them.

I dislike Norton because it is harder to get off of your system than most virus'. It really bogged down my notebook!

I doubt that the trouble removing Norton is accidental. I used them years ago, and when I finally decided to leave, I had to call them to get special removal software. It's a kind of malware itself.

Kaspersky is very good, but CIS is as good, and it's free. If you use BitTorrents, you can get Kaspersky license codes for free.

I used HijackThis once. Good for stubborn removals.

kristoff wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2010 5:39 am McAfee is the one that released a virus killer last week that attacked a Windows file and crashed a great many computers. Sounds like just the program we need.

Get your facts straight first!

WRONG it did not release a Virus it accidently mis read some executable files as a virus. It DID NOT AFFECT CONSUMER SYSTEMS IT WAS THE BUSINESS VERSION THAT HAD THE FLAW. It only affected XP OS systems Vista and Win7 were NOT touched. The update mistakenly identified a critical Windows file — svchost.exe — as a worm and quarantined it, crashing computers running Windows XP Service Pack 3. If the client's system was set to quarantine files that have been identified as infected, ultimately little damage is done. However, if the system is set to delete such files, a lot of pain can result. The error caused some BUSINESS user systems to delete or quarantine that file which in turn made McCaffee think files containing that were infected some Microsoft, Excel documents. The error occurred when McAfee released a new virus definition file with code targeting the W95/CTX virus which by the way Vista and Win7 is immune too.

Free to be ME (imported) wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2010 7:18 am Get your facts straight first!

WRONG it did not release a Virus it accidently mis read some executable files as a virus. It DID NOT AFFECT CONSUMER SYSTEMS IT WAS THE BUSINESS VERSION THAT HAD THE FLAW. It only affected XP OS systems Vista and Win7 were NOT touched. The update mistakenly identified a critical Windows file — svchost.exe — as a worm and quarantined it, crashing computers running Windows XP Service Pack 3. If the client's system was set to quarantine files that have been identified as infected, ultimately little damage is done. However, if the system is set to delete such files, a lot of pain can result. The error caused some BUSINESS user systems to delete or quarantine that file which in turn made McCaffee think files containing that were infected some Microsoft, Excel documents. The error occurred when McAfee released a new virus definition file with code targeting the W95/CTX virus which by the way Vista and Win7 is immune too.

I may be incorrect in details, but the gist of what I intended stands, including the sarcasm. You are a very angry man; you write with venom.

Free to be ME (imported) wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2010 7:18 am Get your facts straight first!

WRONG it did not release a Virus it accidently mis read some executable files as a virus. It DID NOT AFFECT CONSUMER SYSTEMS IT WAS THE BUSINESS VERSION THAT HAD THE FLAW. It only affected XP OS systems Vista and Win7 were NOT touched. The update mistakenly identified a critical Windows file — svchost.exe — as a worm and quarantined it, crashing computers running Windows XP Service Pack 3. If the client's system was set to quarantine files that have been identified as infected, ultimately little damage is done. However, if the system is set to delete such files, a lot of pain can result. The error caused some BUSINESS user systems to delete or quarantine that file which in turn made McCaffee think files containing that were infected some Microsoft, Excel documents. The error occurred when McAfee released a new virus definition file with code targeting the W95/CTX virus which by the way Vista and Win7 is immune too.

Ok, not a virus but might as well have been svchost.exe is used all over the OS and many copies are running most of the time, shut them down and you shut down the whole system, and yes you are a very angry man.

River

Free to be ME (imported) wrote: Thu Apr 29, 2010 7:18 am Get your facts straight first!

WRONG it did not release a Virus it accidently mis read some executable files as a virus.

ZoneAlarm had similar problems occurring in the clean-up processes for XP SP-3 machines. Most definition updating of Protection Programs have a clean-up utility designed to operate within Windows programed utilities. It can be seen at times when the Windows user is cleaning out their HD's or deleting files and programs being used by other resources. The Virus protection service updater answers "Yes" for the user instead of "No" when this occurs. Thus a system flaw and/or crash; unusable HD. Why some suggest never allowing for Automatic removal . . . set your machine to ask before deleting files and folders.

This is another good reason why a desk top HD docking station is a good piece of equipment to own, especially if you need the machine for work, like I do.

HD's do not last forever. They are like batteries. Sometimes it's necessary to change them out. Docking stations are relatively cheap today. You can switch out your HD, install your fav OS on the new HD, then retrieve your DOC's and photos through the Dock.