Family of God: Re: [FamilyofGod] Trojans (and other computer maintenance advice)

I was typing all that on my Blackberry, so now I have a better chance to explain what I mean. Any anti-virus software is ONLY as good as its definition database is. If the program doesn't have something defined as a virus, then it will not catch it as a virus. New viruses of all types are made daily. Some are really just not that big of a deal. They are just annoying, but there are others that are very malicious. However, if your anti-virus software isn't updated properly to add the definitions of all the newer viruses then it will do no good. Programs like Norton are good up until they aren't updated anymore. The problem is that they aren't updated as OFTEN as they should be, and you have to pay to get them updated. They tell you that you need to "renew your subscription". Many people don't quite understand that "subscription" is their name for the definitions in the program. If you don't pay, you don't get your definitions updated, and your anti-virus software is useless. It just takes up space on your system.

There are other programs that update MUCH more often, and the updates are free. You are never in a bind. These are programs that are scheduled to scan daily and update weekly (or whenever you wish to update them really). The program CONSTANTLY looks for new definitions -- which is exactly what you want it to do. The best I have found (and this is backed up for computer programmers that I know run this on the systems they use at work as well as home systems) is something called AVG -- stands for Anti-Virus Grisoft. Grisoft is the company that makes it. They have been around for a while, and the program has never failed me. There is a free version, and there's one you can buy. Really, in all seriousness, the free program works JUST fine.

http://free.avg.com/

That's the link that you need to download it. The page is pretty easy to understand. Just click on "Get it now" on the free version of it. It is easy to understand software as well.

The other recommendation I would give would be to get a separate program for spyware. Spyware isn't a virus -- it's just annoying. It will slow your computer down -- tremendously. The one I have used on my systems with windows is by Lavasoft. They make a program called "Ad-aware". There is a free version (and some that aren't free). The free version never failed me.

http://www.lavasoft.com/

Click on "Get ad-aware free" on the right side of the page, and it should help you out a good bit.

Spyware won't kill your system -- but it will slow things down.

There are a few other things that are ALWAYS good to do --

1) Scandisk

2) Defrag

3) Disk cleanup

4) Run MSCONFIG

If anyone wants information on THAT stuff, I would be more than happy to post about it.

Amanda

There is an optimistic belief widespread among the generous-hearted that the average human being has only to become sufficiently acquainted with another's trouble or danger to transfer it to his own shoulders not merely unhesitatingly but gladly. --Margery Allingham

Bear one another's burdens. Galatians 6:2

From: valerie britt <valerie_britt2000@yahoo.com>
To: FamilyofGod@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, August 30, 2009 3:34:38 PM
Subject: Re: [FamilyofGod] Trojans

So how do i get avg, and thanks amanda
-----Original Message-----
Date: Sunday, August 30, 2009 2:57:56 pm
To: "FOG" <familyofgod@ yahoogroups. com>
From: "Amanda Webster" <oneoddduck3@ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [FamilyofGod] Trojans

Val,

Please don't use norton. There is better software out there - free too. There is a flaw in the system with norton and others like it. They do NO good unless you pay a good bit of money to update them.

I don't have a windows system anymore, but I did for sometime. My mom still uses windows systems. The ONLY thing I used on all 3 computers for virus software was a free program called AVG. My mom has the same thanks to me - so does my brother. None of my computers got a virus.

Amanda
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: "valerie britt" <valerie_britt2000@ yahoo.com>

Date: Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:25:21
To: <FamilyofGod@ yahoogroups. com>
Subject: Re: [FamilyofGod] Trojans

I have the same thing shelly, i been up all night trying to download my norton 360 to get rid of it
-----Original Message-----
Date: Sunday, August 30, 2009 10:21:19 am
To: FamilyofGod@ yahoogroups. com
From: "George" <george_smith92530@ yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [FamilyofGod]