is it safe???

[Guest]

i am very tempted to install webshots, i was told some time ago that it and
the pics you down load are laden with malware, i have since been told that it
is perfectly clean. is there anyone out there who can give me an answer?
i have been posting here for some time and always seem to get answers, so, a
big thank you to all.

 

[Guest]

i had it for quite some time and it never gave me any problems but i got
bored with it so i changed to stylexp, so i could change everything not just
the background, pete ;-)

 

[Shenan Stanley]

i am very tempted to install webshots, i was told some time ago
that it and the pics you down load are laden with malware, i have
since been told that it is perfectly clean. is there anyone out
there who can give me an answer?
i have been posting here for some time and always seem to get
answers, so, a big thank you to all.

Although I am not *into* web shots - I personally have not found it harmful
nor do I remove it when i am cleaning up people's PCs.

 

[null]

I can't say that we have found it 'harmful', but if we are having problems with
a user's PC, and it is installed on it, the first thing we do is uninstall
it...most of the time, that solves the problem.

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Shenan

It's a difficult call when cleaning up a person's system, eh?.. do you take
all of the crap off of it, or do you take the hit when they come back and
say 'but I used to be able to do this...'

 

[Shenan Stanley]

It's a difficult call when cleaning up a person's system, eh?.. do
you take all of the crap off of it, or do you take the hit when
they come back and say 'but I used to be able to do this...'

Yes it is a difficult call.
A lot of people love their little "crap" applications.
I try to leave alone any I have not seen/heard of causing damage - but clean
everything else.

Depending on the situation/timeframe/location - I will sometimes use my
tools and keep an image of the person's machine for a while after cleanup.
This protects me pretty well.

In general - I remove everything I know is bad. Everything.

It's bit me - sort of. I've had the call-backs like you describe. Usually
a short description of "why" something was removed handles it. If not - I
warn them that although they CAN reinstall the application (and I use the
term "application" quite loosely) - that there was a reason it was removed
initially and they are risking the problems associated with it if they do
re-install.

Now on the corporate machines I manage - they can't install any real
applications without conacting an administrator anyway - so the point is a
moot one for the most part. *grin*

To me - taking the hit is not that bad - especially when you explain to them
*why* it was done. Very few times has it come back to haunt me and a few
times I have even had people come back after going ahead with the re-install
of the unfavorable application to ask me to remove the bad stuff and give
them a list so they won't re-install them again. *grin*

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Shenan

I give some a 'loan' machine, not particularly well specified but enough to
show them that a computer with half of the power of their own can perform
well.. I also sit with them and take the time to explain a few salient
points regarding how the 'crap' interacts' with the OS, and talk them out of
the superficial 'benefits' that they seem so keen on having..

Of course, there is the odd 'persistent' offender, but slowly this kind of
operator is being weeded out.. .. small corporates are more difficult
because one has to inform the 'boss' re. some of the surfing habits of the
employers.. we do not exist to make friends, and sometimes the 'boss' will
jump to an employees defence.. OK, Mr Boss, exhibit 1 of 17..

The war continues unabated..

 

[Chuck Davis]

Shenan

I give some a 'loan' machine, not particularly well specified but enough
to show them that a computer with half of the power of their own can
perform well.. I also sit with them and take the time to explain a few
salient points regarding how the 'crap' interacts' with the OS, and talk
them out of the superficial 'benefits' that they seem so keen on having..

Of course, there is the odd 'persistent' offender, but slowly this kind of
operator is being weeded out.. .. small corporates are more difficult
because one has to inform the 'boss' re. some of the surfing habits of the
employers.. we do not exist to make friends, and sometimes the 'boss' will
jump to an employees defence.. OK, Mr Boss, exhibit 1 of 17..

The war continues unabated..

--
Mike Hall
MVP - Windows Shell/User

Yes it is a difficult call.
A lot of people love their little "crap" applications.
I try to leave alone any I have not seen/heard of causing damage - but
clean everything else.

Depending on the situation/timeframe/location - I will sometimes use my
tools and keep an image of the person's machine for a while after
cleanup. This protects me pretty well.

In general - I remove everything I know is bad. Everything.

It's bit me - sort of. I've had the call-backs like you describe.
Usually a short description of "why" something was removed handles it.
If not - I warn them that although they CAN reinstall the application
(and I use the term "application" quite loosely) - that there was a
reason it was removed initially and they are risking the problems
associated with it if they do re-install.

Now on the corporate machines I manage - they can't install any real
applications without conacting an administrator anyway - so the point is
a moot one for the most part. *grin*

To me - taking the hit is not that bad - especially when you explain to
them *why* it was done. Very few times has it come back to haunt me and
a few times I have even had people come back after going ahead with the
re-install of the unfavorable application to ask me to remove the bad
stuff and give them a list so they won't re-install them again. *grin*

Back to the original post. I have used WebShots on both computers for more
than 4 years. About the time that I originally installed WinXP Pro. No
problems, even with my own photos installed. For business computer=crap, for
home personal computer=neat! I personally would uninstall Norton AV, AOL and
some of the other more pervasive "applications" before even thinking of
WebShots.