-Nisko- said:
There must be a site (or sites) where all the different types of malware are
explained - and what to do about them if you get infected. Also, how to
tell if you ARE infected. I have about a half dozen Registry Cleaners that
I use regularly.
You're exceedingly lucky that the computer is still usable. Registry
"cleaners" do very little good, and have a great potential for causing harm.
Why would you even think you need to clean your registry, or that
doing so accomplishes anything?
What specific *problem* are you experiencing that you *know* beyond
all reasonable doubt will be fixed by using a registry cleaner? If you
do have a problem that is rooted in the registry, it would be far better
to simply edit (after backing up, of course) only the specific key(s)
and/or value(s) that are causing the problem. Why use a shotgun when a
scalpel will do the job? Additionally, the manually changing of one or
two registry entries is far less likely to have the dire consequences of
allowing an automated product to make multiple changes simultaneously.
The registry contains all of the operating system's "knowledge" of
the computer's hardware devices, installed software, the location of the
device drivers, and the computer's configuration. A misstep in the
registry can have severe consequences. One should not even turning
loose a poorly understood automated "cleaner," unless he is fully
confident that he knows *exactly* what is going to happen as a result of
each and every change. Having seen the results of inexperienced people
using automated registry "cleaners," I can only advise all but the most
experienced computer technicians (and/or hobbyists) to avoid them all.
Experience has shown me that such tools simply are not safe in the hands
of the inexperienced user.
The only thing needed to safely clean your registry is knowledge
and Regedit.exe. If you lack the knowledge and experience to maintain
your registry by yourself, then you also lack the knowledge and
experience to safely configure and use any automated registry cleaner,
no matter how safe they claim to be.
Further, no one has ever demonstrated, to my satisfaction, that the
use of an automated registry cleaner, particularly by an untrained,
inexperienced computer user, does any real good. There's certainly been
no empirical evidence offered to demonstrate that the use of such
products to "clean" WinXP's registry improves a computer's performance
or stability.
I always use Regedit.exe. I trust my own experience and judgment
far more than I would any automated registry cleaner. I strongly
encourage others to acquire the knowledge, as well.
I have so many because each of them find different things
"wrong." Sometimes, I find MANY things wrong with one of the cleaners -
then run another and find many MORE things wrong. I don't understand this.
This is because registry "cleaners" are, for the most part, worthless
snake oil remedies. They're little better than outright scams
perpetrated upon the gullible. They falsely report a large number of
"problems" so you can feel like you're accomplishing something by
removing the alleged "problems." Because different registry cleaners
are written by different companies and programmers, they each have
differing criteria as to what to call a "problem."
I know some of you are going to tell me that I shouldn't rely on or even use
Registry cleaners
Just those of us with years of experiencing cleaning up behind people
such as yourself. Were I less honest, I'd recommend regisrty cleaners,
or at least remind silent on the issue, as I derive a significant
portion of my income from repairing the damage they do.
- but I have never had a problem and I always let them
delete whatever they want.
Run, don't walk, to the nearest outlet and buy all of the lottery
tickets you can afford -- I've never heard of anyone ever having so much
pure, blind luck.
I figure that, if I have a problem, I can just
reinstall the software with the problem the cleaner caused. So far, so
good.
Actually, it's usually the entire OS that needs to be re-installed to
undo a registry "cleaner's" damage. And if only one or two of an
application's registry entries are deleted/damaged by the "cleaner,"
it's not always possible to reinstall the application. But if you've
nothing better to do with your time, and no real use for your computer,
carry on.
But with ZoneAlarm 5, I'm constantly getting warnings during
installations of different software - and I'm not sure what to do about
them. They sure scare the hell out of me. I wish there were a way to find
out if my system is infected with ANYTHING - then some app that will
definitely get rid of it. Is there such a thing? Does anything come close?
Never heard of antivirus and anti-spyware applications? Having a
firewall is good, but it sounds like you've got it configured to let the
world have access to you computer; what's the point. Set ZoneAlarm so
*nothing* can even see your computer from outside, and so that *no*
applications are allowed to excess the Internet without your express
permission. If you don't know what something is, deny it permission.
Any advice on how best to keep my machine clean (I have to admit that I
sometimes download "stuff"). I always set a Restore Point before installing
anything - and I set a restore point before I delete anything with a
Registry cleaner. But how is a user to know if he's infected immediately
after installation of anything? Some of the things take a while before they
become apparent!
Any and all advice is welcome. I need to set up a protocol for my systems.
Been doing the download "stuff" for years and haven't yet been burned.
Again, go buy lottery tickets....
But
the hackers are getting more technically advanced and I want to stay ahead
of them. By the way, I keep most of my data on a separate disk.
If anyone wants to know what Cleaners I use (and anti-virus protection),
please let me know and I'll respond with my list.
Neither adware nor spyware, collectively known as scumware,
magically install themselves on anyone's computer. They are almost
always deliberately installed by the computer's user, as part of some
allegedly "free" service or product.
While there are some unscrupulous malware distributors out there,
who do attempt to install and exploit malware without consent, the
majority of them simply rely upon the intellectual laziness and
gullibility of the average consumer, counting on them to quickly click
past the EULA in his/her haste to get the latest in "free" cutesy
cursors, screensavers, "utilities," and/or wallpapers.
If you were to read the EULAs that accompany, and to which the
computer user must agree before the download/installation of the
"screensaver" continues, most adware and spyware, you'll find that
they _do_ have the consumer's permission to do exactly what they're
doing. In the overwhelming majority of cases, computer users have no
one to blame but themselves.
There are several essential components to computer security: a
knowledgeable and pro-active user, a properly configured firewall,
reliable and up-to-date antivirus software, and the prompt repair (via
patches, hotfixes, or service packs) of any known vulnerabilities.
The weakest link in this "equation" is, of course, the computer
user. No software manufacturer can -- nor should they be expected
to -- protect the computer user from him/herself. All too many people
have bought into the various PC/software manufacturers marketing
claims of easy computing. They believe that their computer should be
no harder to use than a toaster oven; they have neither the
inclination or desire to learn how to safely use their computer. All
too few people keep their antivirus software current, install patches
in a timely manner, or stop to really think about that cutesy link
they're about to click.
Firewalls and anti-virus applications, which should always be used
and should always be running, are important components of "safe hex,"
but they cannot, and should not be expected to, protect the computer
user from him/herself. Ultimately, it is incumbent upon each and
every computer user to learn how to secure his/her own computer.
To learn more about practicing "safe hex," start with these links:
Protect Your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/default.asp
Home Computer Security
http://www.cert.org/homeusers/HomeComputerSecurity/
List of Antivirus Software Vendors
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;49500
Home PC Firewall Guide
http://www.firewallguide.com/
Scumware.com
http://www.scumware.com/
--
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell
