Genealogy Chat

Thanks so much Judy - all your tips have given me courage and having deleted over 400 cookies, am now tackling Spyware. Liz

Judy you are an angel - have followed this and now have spyguard. I am now trying to find your 1 stop pc maintence, I need to keep these on my threads, so that I can constantly refer to them. They are much easier to follow than any help? on pages! Thanks again, Jane

Bringing forward

Judy, Ive just downloaded adaware v 3 (unregistered) but now it wants money!! help please! :-)

Nudged! for someone asking for it!

Jackie.... Don't download those programs from the internet. Although most do what they say they will, they actually ADD spyware/adware to your PC. There's a reason that programs (games included!) are offered for free and it's usually to the benefit of those giving away the 'free' programs....they get to monitor you. Microsoft's Anti-Spyware is one of the few freebies I suggest, along with ADAWARE. Those will do the job of protecting you against future infestation and remove the generated junk that programs are causing pop-ups. You will need to identify and uninstall programs that already exhist on your PC. If you want, send me, via e-mail, the list of programs listed in your PROGRAMS FOLDER and I can identify the ones that are spyware/adware related....which will need to be uninstalled. To check the programs folder: 1. Click on START. 2. Click on MY COMPUTER - (you may find this on your desktop, too.) 3. Click on C DRIVE. 4. Click on the yellow PROGRAMS folder.....you'll now see all the programs on your PC - at least the ones that aren't hidden - spyware/adware sometimes hides and makes it difficult to remove.) Judy PS: AOL's browser is not always user friendly. To get around that issue, sign on AOL and then minimize the page. Click on the INTERNET EXPLORER icon on your desktop and access the internet that way. There is also a setting that should be changed that may help....see the '1 Stop Routine PC Maintenance' thread....approximately the 8th tip or so on page 1, follow the instructions on the 'Fixing Site Errors.'

Thanks Judy. I'm beginning to wonder about aol. My husband had a couple of technical people over here trying to get his lap top from work to work. Aol was a big, big problem and they weren't helpful. I've enjoyed using them because it is so easy but the words brother and big come to mind. I've been getting this Aurora pop up lately and I've been on to live help and they didn't have a clue! Someone on the aol msg boards suggested going to their web site (can't recall it right now) and it sends you to mypctuneup.com and you download an installer. If you get a minute perhaps you could comment? Don't worry though.Perhaps what you've suggested will sort it. Thanks for the tips! Jackie(it was California in 80's)

Judy, I installed Spywareguard about a year ago and it is absolutely brilliant. Adaware and Spybot became virtually redundant overnight. I still run them once a week but they never find anything serious. The other two freebies that I swear by are CC Cleaner (need to protect cookies first though before running it) and All in one Secretmaker. I stopped using Norton this year because it was getting expensive, and an now using Avast. Firewall is the one that came with my Belkin Wireless Router. Thanks for your threads - always very informative. Peter

I was suprised to see this old(er) post pop-up...LOL! I have 2 ISP accounts....one being AOL and the other cable (Comcast.) I actually now recommend Microsoft's Anti-Spyware program, which is free, over Spywareguard, for several reasons: 1. It updates on it's own...you no longer have to remember to update new definitions. 2. It works in real time to keep spyware/adware programs from installing themselves without your knowledge. 3. It also removes the junk that spyware/adware generates. You do, though, still need to remove pre-exhisting spyware/adware programs that were on your PC prior to downloading any anti-spyware program. I still keep ADAWARE as well....again, this one cleans up the junk that pre-exhisting programs generate but to be completely rid of spyware/adware you have to uninstall it. Microsoft should then keep your PC spyware/adware free. Jot down any .exe programs that Microsoft or Adware detects in their scan results....those are the programs that you will need to uninstall using your PC's ADD/REMOVE PROGRAM feature....after they're removed your PC should be safe except for the 'spyware cookies' that Microsoft will pick up and remove. Spyware cookies are unavoidable if you're online and for the most part, more of an annoyance (pop-ups) than anything. It's those programs that install themselves that cause the damage to one's PC and should be removed. Judy :) Microsoft's Anty-Spyware (Beta) can be found here: http://www.microso(.)com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx ADAWARE SE PERSONAL (two versions; one free, one you pay for....the free one is all you need) can be found here: http://www.lavasoftusa(.)com/software/adaware/ Remember to remove the ( ) from the addresses. As for AOL....I NEVER download anything they offer for free as they do add spyware to your PC. Check your PROGRAMS folder and you will probably notice a program named AOL companion.....this is spyware/adware. It's safe to uninstall this one using your PC's uninstall feature. Judy

Ive just got a new pc and have downloaded Microsofts own spyguard free.

nudge

just nudging this up

Judy Many thanks for your prompt reply to my email to you. I will follow your instructions. Take Care and Best Wishes ....Babz

Hi Judy, Thanks for your message have e mailed back. Diane

Many, many thanks, Judy for your kindness. regards Joy

Joy....I've e-mailed you on getting the free version of ADAWARE. Diane...e-mailed you as well. J

Judy, we have SPYWAREBLASTER downloaded, and Zone alarm. When I tried to download ADAWARE, it got so far and then asked me to pay! Can you help me with this, please? Then I shall try to download SPYWAREGUARD, too. I am grateful to you for the advice. regards Joy

I just downloaded this, one for xp, and it came up with a file invalid or missing message. I've uninstalled, should I try one of the other ones. Diane

Although Spybot does what it says it will do - remove spyware, it adds A LOT of it's own spyware to your PC, which is why I don't recommend this one. Try downloading ADAWARE as well and run both.....you'll see what I mean as it will find all the same things that SPYBOT does PLUS it will find all the junk that SPYBOT placed on your PC. Adaware is also free (they also have a version you pay for)....for those of you who are having trouble downloading or finding the free version let me know as I have it posted so you can download it direct without having to search. Judy

Hi I downloaded Spybot free of charge and it works fine.