Re: Downloads and Spyware

From: Richard Urban (richardurbanREMOVETHIS_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 09/05/04 

Date: Sun, 5 Sep 2004 13:02:44 -0400

Didn't he give you "all" the information you need to continue on your own? 

-- 
Regards:
Richard Urban
aka  Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)
"Pete Q" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
news:654201c49368$38e04440$a501280a@phx.gbl...
>
> Shenan--
>
> Thanks for the response to the first part of my question
> regarding whether virus software should be disabled.
>
> Do you have any input on the 2nd question related to
> spyware?
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>Answers inline
>>
>>Pete Q wrote:
>>> I had a few questions regarding the process to be
>>> followed when installing programs or updates from
>>> Microsoft, either from a CD or the internet
>>>
>>> 1) Should I disable my anti-virus and spyware
>>> applications prior to installing these applications or
> is
>>> it better to download these to my desktop in order to
>>> scan them for viruses and then disable the virs and
>>> spyware applications before the actual install on my
> stem?
>>
>>No.  In most cases this is unnecessary and not
> recommended.  Although it can
>>be true, I install updates/patches/etc on a daily basis
> on many machines and
>>have only once in so many years ever found it necessary
> to disable the
>>antivirus application in order to get an install to work
> correctly.
>>
>>
>>> I have heard some different comments from folks as to
>>> whether this is needed. The reason I had originally
> heard
>>> to disable the virus and spyware apps is that some of
>>> these items may impact the installation process.
>>>
>>> 2) My second question isn't so much related to
> downloads
>>> as so much spyware files. Yesterday I finally installed
>>> Lavasoft Ad-aware on my system. Of course once I ran it
>>> quite a few files were identified as potential spyware
>>> files (somehwere around 600)! The problem is I am
> pretty
>>> much a novice when it comes to spyware and have no idea
>>> as to whether I should be deleting the files. Some of
>>> them are identified as Temp Internet files which I am
>>> assuming I can go ahead and delete.  Some others files
>>> look like this:
>>>
>>> obj[1]=Process : C:\Program Files\Common
>>> files\WinTools\WToolsS.exe
>>>
>>> obj[67]=Regkey :
>>>
> software\microsoft\windows\currentversion\uninstall\wintoo
>>> ls
>>> obj[68]=Regkey : system\controlset001
> \services\wintoolssvc
>>> obj[69]=Regkey : system\controlset002
> \services\wintoolssvc
>>> obj[70]=Regkey :
>>> system\currentcontrolset\services\wintoolssvc
>>>
>>>
>>> obj[15]=RegValue :
>>> Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
>>>
>>>
>>> I got nervous when I started seeing things with "Reg
> Key"
>>> and "Reg Value".  I ended up putting all the files in
>>> Quarantine but I was hoping to get some advice for
>>> the "novice user" as to some general guidelines as to
> how
>>> to know which files that are identified should be
> deleted
>>> without potentially impacting your opereating system.
>>>
>>> Thanks! (and sorry about this being so long)
>>>
>>>
>>> Pete Q
>>
>>WTOOLS is the WORST - I doubt AdAware alone will get rid
> of it.  Both
>>AdAware and Spybot Search and Destroy have features that
> protect you from
>>messing up - you can quarantine.  But I would, in
> general, say if it is
>>found by AdAware or Spybot Search and Destroy - KILL
> IT!  It's bad.
>>
>>Having said that - I have further advice and will
> increase the size of this
>>thread GREATLY.  In here you will find a section on
> SPYWARE that you might
>>find very useful - not that you won't find the rest
> enlightnening as well...
>>
>>*WARNING* This is a LONG spill, all in plain text and
> simplified so that
>>even non-techs should be able to understand it.
> Hopefully this will
>>assist some people in not only repairing their systems,
> but in making
>>them faster and more stable tools for them to use.  It
> contains advice
>>on many things, many considered "common knowledge"
> to 'IT' people
>>everywhere.  It is split into major sections, hopefully
> this will make
>>it easier to navigate. *WARNING*
>>
>>If you don't wish to follow all of the advice
> immediately, just want to
>>get rid of your current dilemma, then you are welcome to
> scroll down to
>>the section titled
>>"SPYWARE/ADWARE/POPUPS/HIJACKS", where your problem as
>>stated should be resolved by the applications and
> suggestions found in
>>that section.  If this helps solve your problem then I
> again HIGHLY
>>suggest you follow the rest of the advice below (matter
> of fact, I
>>suggest it either way.)
>>
>>Suggestions on what you can do to secure/clean your PC.
> Every attempt
>>has been made to be general and an assumption of
> a "Windows" operating
>>system is made here as well - although in some ways,
> this could be
>>adapted to any OS.
>>
>>
>>GENERAL UPKEEP AND CLEANUP
>>--------------------------
>>
>>You should periodically defragment your hard drives as
> well as check them
>>for errors.
>>
>> How to Defragment your hard drives
>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=314848
>>
>> How to scan your disks for errors
>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315265
>>
>> How to use Disk Cleanup
>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310312
>>
>>You should also empty your Internet Explorer Temporary
> Internet
>>Files and make sure the maximum size for this is small
> enough not to cause
>>trouble in the future.  Empty your Temporary Internet
> Files and shrink the
>>size it stores to a size between 120MB and 480MB..
>>
>>- Open ONE copy of Internet Explorer.
>>- Select TOOLS -> Internet Options.
>>- Under the General tab in the "Temporary Internet
> Files" section, do the
>>  following:
>> - Click on "Delete Cookies" (click OK)
>> - Click on "Settings" and change the "Amount of disk
> space to use:" to
>>   something between 120MB and 480MB. (Betting it is
> MUCH larger right
>>   now.)
>> - Click OK.
>> - Click on "Delete Files" and select to "Delete all
> offline contents"
>>   (the checkbox) and click OK. (If you had a LOT, this
> could take 2-10
>>   minutes or more.)
>>- Once it is done, click OK, close Internet Explorer, re-
> open Internet
>>  Explorer.
>>
>>Uninstall any software you no longer use or cannot
> remember installing
>>(ask if it is a multi-user PC) - but only if you are
> sure you do not
>>need it and/or you have the installation media around to
> reinstall if
>>you need to. http://snipurl.com/8v6b may help you
> accomplish this.
>>
>>If things are running a bit slow or you have an older
> system
>>(1.5GHz or less and 256MB RAM or less) then you may want
> to look into
>>tweaking the performance a bit by turning off some of
> the memory
>>using Windows XP "prettifications".  The fastest method
> is:
>>
>>Control Panel --> System --> Advanced tab -->
> Performance section,
>>Settings button.  Then choose "adjust for best
> performance" and you
>>now have a Windows 2000/98 look which turned off many of
> the annoying
>>"prettifications" in one swift action. You can play with
> the last
>>three checkboxes to get more of an XP look without many
> of the
>>other annoyances.  You could also grab and install/mess
> with one
>>(or more) of the Microsoft Powertoys - TweakUI in
> particular:
>>
>>http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xp
> powertoys.mspx
>>
>>You should also verify that your System Restore feature
> is enabled and
>>working properly.  Unfortunately, if seems to have
> issues on occasion,
>>ones that can easily be avoided by turning off/on the
> system restore and
>>make a manual restoration point as one of your periodic
> maintenance tasks.
>>This is particularly important right before installing
> something major
>>(or even minor if you are unsure what it might do to
> your system.)
>>
>> Turn off System Restore.
>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310405
>>
>> Reboot.
>>
>> Turn on System Restore.
>> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310405
>>
>> Make a Manual Restoration Point.
>> http://snipurl.com/68nx
>>
>>(That, of course, will erase the previous restore point
> you have.)
>>
>>Also, you should look into backing up your valuable
> files and folders.
>>http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308422
>>
>>And keep your original installation media (CDs, disks)
> safe with their
>>CD keys and such.  Make backups of these installation
> media sets as
>>well and always use strong passwords.  Good passwords
> are those that
>>meet these general rules (mileage may vary):
>>
>> Passwords should contain at least six characters, and
> the character
>> string should contain at least three of these four
> character types:
>>    - uppercase letters
>>    - lowercase letters
>>    - numerals
>>    - nonalphanumeric characters (e.g., *, %, &, !)
>>
>> Passwords should not contain your name/logon name.
>>
>>
>>UPDATES and PATCHES
>>-------------------
>>
>>** Side Note: *IF* you are about to install Service Pack
> 2 (SP2) for
>>   Windows XP, I suggest you clean up your system
> first.  Uninstall any
>>   applications you do not use.  Update any that you
> do.  Download the
>>   latest drivers for your hardware devices.  Defragment
> and run a full
>>   CHKDSK on your hard drives.  Scan your system and
> clean it of any
>>   Spyware/Adware/Malware and for Viruses and Trojans.
> Below you will
>>   find advice and links to applications that will help
> you do all of
>>   this.  If this advice helps you, please - pass it
> on.  Print it,
>>   email it, forward it to anyone you think it might
> help.  A little
>>   knowledge might help prevent lots of trouble.
>>
>>This one is the most obvious.  There is no perfect
> product and any company
>>worth their salt will try to meet/exceed the needs of
> their customers and
>>fix any problems they find along the way.  I am not
> going to say Microsoft
>>is the best company in the world about this but they do
> have an option
>>available for you to use to keep your machine updated
> and patched from
>>the problems and vulnerabilities (as well as product
> improvements in some
>>cases) - and it's free to you.
>>
>> Windows Update
>> http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com/
>>
>>Go there and scan your machine for updates.  Always get
> the critical ones as
>>you see them.  Write down the KB###### or Q###### you
> see when
>>selecting the updates and if you have trouble over the
> next few days,
>>go into your control panel (Add/Remove Programs), match
> up the latest
>>numbers you downloaded recently (since you started
> noticing an issue) and
>>uninstall them.  If there was more than one (usually
> is), install them back
>>one by one - with a few hours of use in between, to see
> if the problem
>>returns.  Yes - the process is not perfect (updating)
> and can cause trouble
>>like I mentioned - but as you can see, the solution
> isn't that bad - and is
>>MUCH better than the alternatives.
>>
>>Windows is not the only product you likely have on your
> PC.  The
>>manufacturers of the other products usually have updates
> as well.  New
>>versions of almost everything come out all the time -
> some are free, some
>>are pay - some you can only download if you are
> registered - but it is best
>>to check.  Just go to their web pages and look under
> their support and
>>download sections.  For example, for Microsoft Office
> update, you should
>>visit:
>>
>> Microsoft Office Updates
>> http://office.microsoft.com/
>> (and select "downloads")
>>
>>You also have hardware on your machine that requires
> drivers to interface
>>with the operating system.  You have a video card that
> allows you to see on
>>your screen, a sound card that allows you to hear your
> PCs sound output and
>>so on.  Visit those manufacturer web sites for the
> latest downloadable
>>drivers for your hardware/operating system.  Always
> (IMO) get the
>>manufacturers hardware driver over any Microsoft
> offers.  On the Windows
>>Update site I mentioned earlier, I suggest NOT getting
> their hardware
>>drivers - no matter how tempting.  First - how do you
> know what hardware
>>you have in your computer?  Invoice or if it is up and
> working now - take
>>inventory:
>>
>> Belarc Advisor
>> http://belarc.com/free_download.html
>>
>>Once you know what you have, what next?  Go get the
> latest driver for your
>>hardware/OS from the manufacturer's web page.  For
> example, let's say you
>>have an NVidia chipset video card or ATI video card,
> perhaps a Creative
>>Labs sound card or C-Media chipset sound card...
>>
>> NVidia Video Card Drivers
>> http://www.nvidia.com/content/drivers/drivers.asp
>>
>> ATI Video Card Drivers
>> http://www.atitech.com/support/driver.html
>>
>> Creative Labs Sound Device
>> http://us.creative.com/support/downloads/
>>
>> C-Media Sound Device
>> http://www.cmedia.com.tw/e_download_01.htm
>>
>>As for Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP, Microsoft
> has made this
>>particular patch available in a number of ways.  First,
> there is the
>>Windows Update web page above.  Then there is a direct
> download site
>>and finally, you can order the FREE CD from Microsoft.
>>
>> Direct Download of Service Pack 2 (SP2) for Windows XP
>> http://snipurl.com/8bqy
>>
>> Order the Free Windows XP SP2 CD
>> http://snipurl.com/8umo
>>
>>Microsoft also have a bunch of suggestions, some similar
> to these,
>>on how to better protect your Windows system:
>>
>> Protect your PC
>> http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
>>
>>
>>FIREWALL
>>--------
>>
>>Let's say you are up-to-date on the OS (operating
> system) and you have
>>Windows XP..  You should at least turn on the built in
> firewall.  That will
>>do a lot to "hide" you from the random bad things flying
> around the
>>Internet.  Things like Sasser/Blaster enjoy just sitting
> out there in
>>Cyberspace looking for an unprotected Windows Operating
> System and jumping
>>on it, doing great damage in the process and then using
> that Unprotected OS
>>to continue its dirty work of infecting others.  If you
> have the Windows XP
>>FW turned on - default configuration - then they cannot
> see you!  Think of
>>it as Internet Stealth Mode at this point.  It has other
> advantages, like
>>actually locking the doors you didn't even (likely) know
> you had.  Doing
>>this is simple, some helpful tips for the SP2 enabled
> firewall can be found
>>here:
>>
>>
> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/community/columns/cablegu
> y/cg0204.mspx
>>
>>If you read through that and look through the pages that
> are linked from it
>>throughout - I think you should have a firm grasp on the
> basics of the
>>Windows XP Firewall as it is today.  One thing to note
> RIGHT NOW - if you
>>have AOL, you cannot use this nice firewall that came
> with your system.
>> Thank AOL, not Microsoft.  You HAVE to configure
> another one.. So we
>>continue with our session on Firewalls...
>>
>>But let's say you DON'T have Windows XP - you have some
> other OS like
>>Windows 95, 98, 98SE, ME, NT, 2000.  Well, you don't
> have the nifty built in
>>firewall.  My suggestion - upgrade.  My next suggestion -
> look through your
>>options.  There are lots of free and pay firewalls out
> there for home users.
>>Yes - you will have to decide on your own which to get.
> Yes, you will have
>>to learn (oh no!) to use these firewalls and configure
> them so they don't
>>interfere with what you want to do while continuing to
> provide the security
>>you desire.  It's just like anything else you want to
> protect - you have to
>>do something to protect it.  Here are some suggested
> applications.  A lot of
>>people tout "ZoneAlarm" as being the best alternative to
> just using the
>>Windows XP FW, but truthfully - any of these
> alternatives are much better
>>than the Windows XP FW at what they do - because that is
> ALL they do.
>>
>> ZoneAlarm (Free and up)
>> http://snipurl.com/6ohg
>>
>> Kerio Personal Firewall (KPF) (Free and up)
>> http://www.kerio.com/kpf_download.html
>>
>> Outpost Firewall from Agnitum (Free and up)
>> http://www.agnitum.com/download/
>>
>> Sygate Personal Firewall (Free and up)
>> http://smb.sygate.com/buy/download_buy.htm
>>
>> Symantec's Norton Personal Firewall (~$25 and up)
>> http://www.symantec.com/sabu/nis/npf/
>>
>> BlackICE PC Protection ($39.95 and up)
>> http://blackice.iss.net/
>>
>> Tiny Personal Firewall (~$49.00 and up)
>> http://www.tinysoftware.com/
>>
>>That list is not complete, but they are good firewall
> options, every one of
>>them.  Visit the web pages, read up, ask around if you
> like - make a
>>decision and go with some firewall, any firewall.  Also,
> maintain it.
>>Sometimes new holes are discovered in even the best of
> these products and
>>patches are released from the company to remedy this
> problem.  However, if
>>you don't get the patches (check the manufacturer web
> page on occasion),
>>then you may never know you have the problem and/or are
> being used through
>>this weakness.  Also, don't stack these things.  Running
> more than one
>>firewall will not make you safer - it would likely (in
> fact) negate some
>>protection you gleamed from one or the other firewalls
> you run.
>>
>>
>>ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
>>------------------
>>
>>That's not all.  That's one facet of a secure PC, but
> firewalls don't do
>>everything.  I saw one person posting on a newsgroup
> that "they had
>>never had a virus and they never run any anti-virus
> software."  Yep - I used
>>to believe that way too - viruses were something
> everyone else seemed to
>>get, were they just careless?  And for the average joe-
> user who is careful,
>>uses their one to three family computers carefully,
> never opening unknown
>>email attachments, always visiting the same family safe
> web sites, never
>>installing anything that did not come with their
> computer - maybe, just
>>maybe they will never witness a virus.  I, however, am a
> Network Systems
>>Administrator.  I see that AntiVirus software is an
> absolute necessity given
>>how most people see their computer as a toy/tool and not
> something
>>they should have to maintain and upkeep.  After all,
> they were invented to
>>make life easier, right - not add another task to your
> day.  You
>>can be as careful as you want - will the next person be
> as careful?  Will
>>someone send you unknowingly the email that erases all
> the pictures of your
>>child/childhood?  Possibly - why take the chance?
> ALWAYS RUN ANTIVIRUS
>>SOFTWARE and KEEP IT UP TO DATE!  Antivirus software
> comes in so many
>>flavors, it's like walking into a Jelly Belly store -
> which one tastes like
>>what?!  Well, here are a few choices for you.  Some of
> these are free (isn't
>>that nice?) and some are not.  Is one better than the
> other - MAYBE.
>>
>> Symantec (Norton) AntiVirus (~$11 and up)
>> http://www.symantec.com/nav/nav_9xnt/
>>
>> Kaspersky Anti-Virus (~$49.95 and up)
>> http://www.kaspersky.com/products.html
>>
>> Panda Antivirus Titanium (~$39.95 and up)
>> http://www.pandasoftware.com/
>> (Free Online Scanner:
> http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/)
>>
>> AVG 6.0 Anti-Virus System (Free and up)
>> http://www.grisoft.com/
>>
>> McAfee VirusScan (~$11 and up)
>> http://www.mcafee.com/
>>
>> AntiVir (Free and up)
>> http://www.free-av.com/
>>
>> avast! 4 (Free and up)
>> http://www.avast.com/
>>
>> Trend Micro (~$49.95 and up)
>> http://www.trendmicro.com/en/home/us/personal.htm
>> (Free Online Scanner:
>>
> http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp)
>>
>> RAV AntiVirus Online Virus Scan (Free!)
>> http://www.ravantivirus.com/scan/
>>
>>Did I mention you have to not only install this
> software, but also keep it
>>updated?  You do.  Some of them (most) have automatic
> services to help you
>>do this - I mean, it's not your job to keep up with the
> half-dozen or more
>>new threats that come out daily, is it?  Be sure to keep
> whichever one you
>>choose up to date!
>>
>>
>>SPYWARE/ADWARE/POPUPS/HIJACKS
>>-----------------------------
>>
>>So you must be thinking that the above two things got
> your back now - you
>>are covered, safe and secure in your little fox hole.
> Wrong!  There are
>>more bad guys out there.  There are annoyances out there
> you can get without
>>trying.  Your normal web surfing, maybe a wrong click on
> a web page, maybe
>>just a momentary lack of judgment by installing some
> software packages
>>without doing the research..  And all of a sudden your
> screen starts filling
>>up with advertisements or your Internet seems much
> slower or your home page
>>won't stay what you set it and goes someplace unfamiliar
> to you.  This is
>>spyware.  There are a whole SLEW of software packages
> out there to get rid
>>of this crud and help prevent reinfection.  Some of the
> products already
>>mentioned might even have branched out into this arena.
> However, there are
>>a few applications that seem to be the best at what they
> do, which is
>>eradicating and immunizing your system from this crap.
> Strangely, the best
>>products I have found in this category ARE generally
> free.  That is a trend
>>I like.  I make donations to some of them, they deserve
> it!
>>
>>Two side-notes:  Never think one of these can do the
> whole job.
>>Try the first 5 before coming back and saying "That did
> not work!"
>>Also, you can always visit:
>> http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
>>For more updated information.
>>
>> Spybot Search and Destroy (Free!)
>> http://www.safer-networking.net/en/download/index.html
>>
>> Lavasoft AdAware (Free and up)
>> http://www.lavasoft.de/support/download/
>>
>> CWShredder (Free!)
>> ** No longer updated as of July 29, 2004 - however,
> still a great
>>    product and should still be ran **
>> http://www.softbasket.com/download/s_8114.shtml
>>
>> Hijack This! (Free)
>> http://mjc1.com/mirror/hjt/
>> ( Tutorial: http://hjt.wizardsofwebsites.com/ )
>>
>> SpywareBlaster (Free!)
>> http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sbdownload.html
>>
>> IE-SPYAD (Free!)
>> https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ehowes/www/resource.htm
>>
>> ToolbarCop (Free!)
>> http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/toolbarcop.htm
>>
>> Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner (Free!)
>> http://www.kephyr.com/spywarescanner/
>>
>> Browser Security Tests
>> http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/BrowserSecurity/
>>
>> Popup Tester
>> http://www.popuptest.com/
>>
>> The Cleaner  (49.95 and up)
>> http://www.moosoft.com/
>>
>>That will clean up your machine of the spyware, given
> that you download and
>>install several of them, update them regularly and scan
> with them when you
>>update.  Some (like SpywareBlaster and SpyBot Search and
> Destroy and
>>IESPYAD)
>>have/are immunization utilities that will help you
> prevent your PC from
>>being
>>infected.  Use these features!
>>
>>Unfortunately, although that will lessen your popups on
> the Internet/while
>>you are online, it won't eliminate them.  I have looked
> at a lot of options,
>>seen a lot of them used in production with people who
> seem to attract popups
>>like a plague, and I only have one suggestion that end
> up serving double
>>duty (search engine and popup stopper in one):
>>
>> The Google Toolbar (Free!)
>> http://toolbar.google.com/
>>
>>Yeah - it adds a bar to your Internet Explorer - but its
> a useful one.  You
>>can search from there anytime with one of the best
> search engines on the
>>planet (IMO.)  And the fact it stops most popups - wow -
> BONUS!  If you
>>don't like that suggestion, then I am just going to say
> you go to
>>www.google.com and search for other options.  Please
> notice that Windows XP
>>SP2 does help stop popups as well.  Another option is to
> use an alternative
>>Web browser.  I suggest "Mozilla Firefox", as it has
> some great features
>>and is very easy to use:
>>
>> Mozilla Firefox
>> http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/
>>
>>One more suggestion, although I will suggest this in a
> way later, is to
>>disable your Windows Messenger service.  This service is
> not used frequently
>>(if at all) by the normal home user and in cooperation
> with a good firewall,
>>is generally unnecessary.  Microsoft has instructions on
> how to do this for
>>Windows XP here:
>>
>>http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/commun
> icate/stopspam.asp
>>
>>
>>SPAM EMAIL/JUNK MAIL
>>--------------------
>>
>>This one can get annoying, just like the rest.  You get
> 50 emails in one
>>sitting and 2 of them you wanted.  NICE! (Not.)  What
> can you do?  Well,
>>although there are services out there to help you, some
> email
>>servers/services that actually do lower your spam with
> features built into
>>their servers - I still like the methods that let you be
> the end-decision
>>maker on what is spam and what isn't.  If these things
> worked perfectly, we
>>wouldn't need people and then there would be no spam
> anyway - vicious
>>circle, eh?  Anyway - I have two products to suggest to
> you, look at them
>>and see if either of them suite your needs.  Again, if
> they don't, Google is
>>free and available for your perusal.
>>
>> SpamBayes (Free!)
>> http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/
>>
>> Spamihilator (Free!)
>> http://www.spamihilator.com/
>>
>>As I said, those are not your only options, but are
> reliable ones I have
>>seen function for hundreds+ people.
>>
>>
>>DISABLE (Set to Manual) UNUSED SERVICE/STARTUP APPS
>>---------------------------------------------------
>>
>>I might get arguments on putting this one here, but it's
> my spill. There are
>>lots of services on your PC that are probably turned on
> by default you don't
>>use.  Why have them on?  Check out these web pages to
> see what all of the
>>services you might find on your computer are and set
> them according to your
>>personal needs.  Be CAREFUL what you set to manual, and
> take heed and write
>>down as you change things!  Also, don't expect a large
> performance increase
>>or anything - especially on today's 2+ GHz machines,
> however - I look at
>>each
>>service you set to manual as one less service you have
> to worry about
>>someone exploiting.  A year ago, I would have thought
> the Windows Messenger
>>service to be pretty safe, now I recommend (with
> addition of a firewall)
>>that most home users disable it!  Yeah - this is another
> one you have to
>>work for, but your computer may speed up and/or be more
> secure because you
>>took the time.  And if you document what you do as you
> do it, next time, it
>>goes MUCH faster! (or if you have to go back and re-
> enable things..)
>>
>> Task List Programs
>>
> http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
>>
>> Black Viper's Service List and Opinions (XP)
>> http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
>>
>> Processes in Windows NT/2000/XP
>> http://www.reger24.de/prozesse/
>>
>>There are also applications that AREN'T services that
> startup when you start
>>up the computer/logon.  One of the better description on
> how to handle these
>>I have found here:
>>
>> Startups
>> http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php
>>
>>
>>That's it.  A small booklet on how to keep your computer
> secure, clean of
>>scum and more user friendly.  I am SURE I missed
> something, almost as I am
>>sure you won't read all of it (anyone for that matter.)
> However, I also
>>know that someone who followed all of the advice above
> would also have less
>>problems with their PC, less problems with viruses, less
> problems with spam,
>>fewer problems with spyware and better performance than
> someone who didn't.
>>
>>Hope it helps.
>>
>>-- 
>><- Shenan ->
>>-- 
>>The information is provided "as is", it is suggested you
> research for
>>yourself before you take any advice - you are the one
> ultimately
>>responsible for your actions/problems/solutions.   Know
> what you are
>>getting into before you jump in with both feet.
>>
>>
>>.
>>