Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Pastimes : Computer Learning -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: mr.mark who wrote (33655)	5/24/2003 7:44:42 PM
From: Martin E. Frankel	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 110582

Mr. Mark, Thanks. I couldn't agree with you more re: putting in a good anti-Trojan program and a good firewall (and a good spyware remover and registry cleaner as well). I'm running Win2000 Pro on my servers and workstations and Win XP Pro on my notebook... each with over a gig of ram. Perhaps I'm being too cautious, but I've read too many articles about which is better for the novice (like myself). What I really need are good utilities for dummies (VBG)!! 1) Re: Firewalls. I've heard great things about ZoneAlarm, but is the latest free version or Plus version or Pro version the one to get? And is Zone Alarm the best of the lot? I've heard there were problems uninstalling ZoneAlarm (registry entries that remain after uninstalling). The cost, IMO, shouldn't be an issue. We spend a fortune on our computers and the everyday retail software... and going out to dinner and on vacations, etc.. IMO, again, the cost to protect that investment and my personal data should not be an issue. 2) Re: Anti-Trojan programs. There are a lot on the market from what I can see and some supposedly much better than others, but some also require a great deal of expertise to use... at least from what I've read. And some don't update their definitions as frequently as perhaps they should. You mention that you use two (2) antiTrojan programs. From what I've read, BOClean checks directly on download and that's how it differs from the others. But, can you run both programs at once... i.e.: in the background? I've heard various opinions on this and most seem to say you shouldn't as they may conflict with each other. 3) Re: Anti-spyware programs. I've heard great things about the new version of AdAware and also great things about SpyBot. I'd love to download one or both, but I've also heard of disasters where files were deleted that were essential. Yes, I know you can save them when you delete them... just in case. But, how does one know which deleted file to put back?? It would be nice if the anti-spyware program told you what program the file was associated with BEFORE you deleted it! 4) Re: Registry Cleaner programs. I know I need one... too many uninstalls and reinstalls, shared DLLs, etc., but, again the same problem as in (3) above... deleting a necessary file. I love it when a program is being uninstalled and a window pops up saying that the DLL may be shared with another program... may be!! Obviously, I don't delete it because I don't know what the "other" program it's referring to is... hence, what good is it as a registry cleaner? Thanks for your input and thanks to anyone else who wants to put their two cents in. That's what made this thread probably the best on the internet! Sorry for the long post, but I think there are many out there who feel as I do and just don't have any answers or the experience as many other members of this thread do. Marty