Re: Windows Malicious Software Removal

Thanks. Agree with you on AOL and Nortons

Very comprehensive list, and I'll look into it (tommorrow - got a barbecue
to do today LOL). Freeware is great, and I don't even mind paying for
software if it really works.

I pull my hair out once or twice a month between AOL and Nortons. Just spent
several hours this week getting AOL up and running again, rebuilding the AOL
adaptor, and re-installing their connectivity service. Their stuff, and
Nortons "runs wild" often for no reason. And between the two of them, takes
up 100% of CPU for at least the first 5 minutes of each bootup.

Frank Chin



"--Alias--" wrote:

FrankChin wrote:
For some reason, one of my PC's didn't automatically update Windows, so I
manually did it this monring, and notice one of them is for "Windows
Malicious Software Removal". After reading up on it, says in works in
background.

Prior to this, I had no idea this was even in my PC.

Now I got "Norton Internet Security" running that includes checking for
adware, spyware and what not.

On top of which, I got AOL running a spyware program on this pC. and on some
other PC's got the entire AOL safety and security suite running.

Do I really need all this stuff running on one PC???

You most certainly don't need *anything* AOL or Norton.


And PC is slow, and takes forever to get up and running during bootup. I get
an annual subscription to Norton's, and I have to make a decision to renew in
another month or two.

Don't do it. Unfortunately, to rid yourself of Norton, the only sure way
is to reformat.

I was thinking of keeping Norton's on some of my PC's that's got them. I
got 8 of them between my business and home, and it appears impossible to
remove Nortons once its software is in. But "long term", I want to have all
of my PC's on one platform, using the same software.

The questions are:

- Does the Microsoft Malicious Software removal perform tasks that Norton's
and AOL safety and security doesn't not do??

No, it just checks for common beasties and then uninstalls itself.

- Does a summary exist someone showing what each does??

- Advisable to removal one or two of them, keeping the third?? In that case,
which ones to remove, assuming I can remove it safely??

Get rid of AOL and Norton. Replace them with the free programs, Avast
(www.avast.com) for your anti virus and Zone Alarm (www.zonelabs.com)
for your firewall.


- Since ISP's offer safety and security packages as part of their services,
shouldn't I just go with what they offer. AOL offers AOL safety and security
powered by McAfee, and updated frequently. I read up on Earthlink and they
offere their packages.


Thanks.

NO, you shouldn't. In addition to Avast and Zone Alarm, download and
update the following:

AdAware (www.lavasoftusa.com)

Spybot, Search and Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/),
SpywareGuard (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/sgdownload.html)

and SpywareBlaster (http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html)
so that you can remove and protect against any spy ware/mal ware/ad ware
or scum ware from your computer that you might get while surfing the web.

Also, to clean up your computer, use Crap Cleaner (www.ccleaner.com).

ALL free.

Alias

.

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