Given that you have properly protected and regulalry scan for Virus, trojans,
worms and spyware, what else can you do to restore system performance.
Unfortunately, although that will lessen your popups on the Internet/while
you are online, it won't eliminate them. I have looked at a lot of options,
seen a lot of them used in production with people who seem to attract popups
like a plague, and I only have one suggestion that end up serving double duty
(search engine and popup stopper in one):
The Google Toolbar (Free!)
http://toolbar.google.com/
Yes, I know that it adds a toolbar to Internet Explorer - but it’s a useful
one. You can search from there anytime with one of the best search engines
on the planet. And the fact it stops most popups - BONUS! If you don't like
that suggestion, then I am just going to say you go to:
www.google.com and search for other options.
One more suggestion, although I will suggest this in a way later, is to
disable your Windows Messenger service. This service is not used frequently
(if at all) by the normal home user and in cooperation with a good firewall,
is generally unnecessary. Microsoft has instructions on how to do this for
Windows XP here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/communicate/stopspam.asp
SPAM EMAIL/JUNK MAIL
This one can get annoying, just like the rest. You get 50 emails in one
sitting and 2 of them you wanted. NICE! (Not.) What can you do? Well,
although there are services out there to help you, some email
servers/services that actually do lower your spam with features built into
their servers - I still like the methods that let you be the end-decision
maker on what is spam and what isn't. If these things worked perfectly, we
wouldn't need people and then there would be no spam anyway – vicious circle,
eh? Anyway - I have two products to suggest to you, look at them and see if
either of them suite your needs. Again, if they don't, Google is free and
available for your perusal.
SpamBayes (Free!)
http://spambayes.sourceforge.net/
Spamihilator (Free!)
http://www.spamihilator.com/
DISABLE (Set to Manual) UNUSED SERVICE/STARTUP APPS
I might get arguments on putting this one here; however at the risk of any
feedback here we go.
There are lots of services on your PC that are probably turned on by default
you don't use. Why have them on? Check out these web pages to see what all
of the services you might find on your computer are and set them according to
your personal needs. Be CAREFUL what you set to manual, and take heed and
write down as you change things! Also, don't expect a large performance
increase or anything - especially on today’s 2+ GHz machines, however - I
look at each service you set to manual as one less service you have to worry
about someone exploiting. A year ago, I would have thought the Windows
Messenger service to be pretty safe, now I recommend (with addition of a
firewall) that most home users disable it! Yeah - this is another one you
have to work for, but your computer may speed up and/or be more secure
because you took the time. And if you document what you do as you do it,
next time, it goes MUCH faster! (Or if you have to go back and re-enable
things...)
Task List Programs
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
Black Viper's Service List and Opinions (XP)
http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm
Processes in Windows NT/2000/XP
http://www.reger24.de/prozesse/
There are also applications that AREN'T services that startup when you start
up the computer/logon. One of the better descriptions on how to handle these
I have found here:
Startups
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php
That's it. I can be certain that others will considered that I have missed
something, almost as confidently as I thibnk that you won't read all of it .
However, I also know that someone who follows all of the advice above will
have less problems with their PC, less problems with viruses, less problems
with spam, fewer problems with spyware and better performance than someone
who didn't.
Hope it helps.
