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

To: Martin E. Frankel who wrote (34484)	5/24/2003 8:58:32 PM
From: MulhollandDrive	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110582

martin... 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 i think it should be an "illegal operation" for a program to rip out your shared dll files when removing a program... it's criminal, imo. <g>

To: Martin E. Frankel who wrote (34484)	5/24/2003 10:06:39 PM
From: Zardoz	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110582

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). I see you realize that you are only stopping the amateur's attacks on your system. The problem of security is not the programs you are required to prevent these attacks; but is the nature of MSFT Operating System: which is nothing more then a glorified virus itself. Although I use windows 98se & Windows XP Pro, I can honestly say that there are THOUSANDS of ways into any system. I've written so many computers viruses in my life time, so many registry linkers, trackers, Trojans {none lately, lol} that I can say this: UNTIL an OPERATING SYSTEM is written with the idea of being a protected module, where no software can gain access to it via any methodology. Then there will be no such thing as a secure computer. And all these cleaners, firewalls, etc programs will only deter amateurs, or make people become professionals All problems stem from the design of the OS... MSFT/UNIX etc should be ashamed of themselves

To: Martin E. Frankel who wrote (34484)	5/25/2003 1:24:46 AM
From: TimF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110582

I don't have an anti-trojan program and perhaps I should get one, but have a hardware firewall/router + Zonealarm, + AVG antivirus + Startupmonitor so that no program can add itself to start up with my permission, and Webwasher. I also have AdAware and Spybot and Pest Patrol to clean up any junk that gets through. I have not had any problems with them. Tim

To: Martin E. Frankel who wrote (34484)	5/26/2003 9:56:15 PM
From: Martin E. Frankel	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 110582

To All, Below is the long post I put up on May 24th. I appreciate the responses and apologize again for its length, but it seems that nobody wants to take a stab at addressing the issues I raised. I truly think these are questions that should be brought out for debate/discussion among the thread members as I believe they are of interest to the vast majority of thread participants and lurkers. Using an antivirus program is a no brainer assuming you keep your definitions up to date, but the others have potential problems as listed below. Come on people. Let's have some input. Thanks again. Marty _____________________________________ Message 18972865 "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"