anti-virus & other stuff

just curious....

what's the best software for antivirus, malware and other anti-windows
stuff I didn't mention & cleaning windows registry.
--
dilbert firestorm

"firestorm31" wrote in message
...
just curious....

what's the best software for antivirus, malware and other anti-windows
stuff I didn't mention & cleaning windows registry.



You'll get a lot of different opinions on this.

As far as freeware, I have no problem using MSE, but if you want something
else, I would suggest Avira or Avast.

Avira Free Antivirus
http://www.avira.com/en/avira-free-antivirus

Avast Free
http://www.avast.com/index

This is a good program to have handy. The free version is not real-time so
it won't interfere with your security program.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

When offered, uncheck: Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Premium.


As far as a registry cleaner, I wouldn't suggest ever using one even to my
worst enemy.
--

~Bruce

On Sun, 21 Dec 2014 10:28:03 -0600, firestorm31 wrote:

cleaning windows registry.

You should stay away from that.

--
s|b

Il Sun, 21 Dec 2014 10:28:03 -0600, firestorm31 ha scritto:

anti-windows stuff

linux



--
/-\ /\/\ /\/\ /-\ /\/\ /\/\ /-\ T /-\ ... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

On Sun, 21 Dec 2014 10:28:03 -0600, firestorm31
wrote:

just curious....

what's the best software for antivirus, malware and other anti-windows
stuff I didn't mention & cleaning windows registry.



That's like asking which is the better car, a Ford or a Chevrolet.
You'll get different opinions from different people.

So I won't answer the first part of your question, but I do want to
answer the second part:

Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
it may have.

Read
http://www.howtogeek.com/171633/why-...r-fix-crashes/
and also
http://blogs.technet.com/markrussino...t-of-life.aspx

You also might want to read the section on the CCleaner Registry
Cleaner he
http://www.howtogeek.com/113382/how-...9-tips-tricks/

Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against the
use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

Rather, the problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it
the substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no
benefit to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad
bargain.

In message , Bruce Hagen
writes:
"firestorm31" wrote in message
...
just curious....

what's the best software for antivirus, malware and other
anti-windows stuff I didn't mention & cleaning windows registry.



You'll get a lot of different opinions on this.

As far as freeware, I have no problem using MSE, but if you want
something else, I would suggest Avira or Avast.

Avira Free Antivirus
http://www.avira.com/en/avira-free-antivirus

I'd seconds that; seems to work OK.

Avast Free
http://www.avast.com/index

I've not had any trouble on 7 with AVG, and found it easy to use.

This is a good program to have handy. The free version is not real-time
so it won't interfere with your security program.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free

When offered, uncheck: Enable free trial of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Premium.


As far as a registry cleaner, I wouldn't suggest ever using one even to
my worst enemy.

The usual argument is that no-one has produced any evidence that either
(a) _not_ "cleaning" the registry does any harm, or (b) that doing so
makes more than an extremely marginal difference to performance. Having
said that, using them does not _guarantee_ disaster - if it did, they
wouldn't exist, and there are even paid ones.

If you must use one, then among freeware CCleaner seems well-known, and
I think EasyCleaner has a registry-cleaning part; among paid ones,
Registry First Aid is recognised.

The main difficulty with using them is that - to use them properly - you
should use them in the mode that tells you "I've found these things that
maybe should be removed - do you want to?", and unless you _really_ know
what you're doing, you won't have a clue. (I've never used one in
automatic mode.) Certainly, if you must use them, make sure you use them
in a mode that makes a backup of the registry _before_ making any
changes - or do so yourself - and make sure you know how to restore from
it, even from a system that won't boot.

FWIW: I've _occasionally_ used them, and _not_ had any problems I can
definitely attribute to having done so.

The majority of entries they seem to find are from MRU - most recently
used - lists, which assorted prog.s like NotePad store in the registry;
there's certainly little point in clearing _those_ out, since they'll
build up again.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

"You know what they say. In London you're never more than ten feet away from a
lying politician." The Downing Street rat, "quoted" by Rod Liddle in Radio
Times, 12-18 February 2011

On 21/12/2014 18:52:37, Ken Blake wrote:
On Sun, 21 Dec 2014 10:28:03 -0600, firestorm31
wrote:

just curious....

what's the best software for antivirus, malware and other anti-windows
stuff I didn't mention & cleaning windows registry.

That's like asking which is the better car, a Ford or a Chevrolet.
You'll get different opinions from different people.

So I won't answer the first part of your question, but I do want to
answer the second part:

Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
it may have.

Read
http://www.howtogeek.com/171633/why-...r-fix-crashes/
and also
http://blogs.technet.com/markrussino...t-of-life.aspx

You also might want to read the section on the CCleaner Registry
Cleaner he
http://www.howtogeek.com/113382/how-...9-tips-tricks/

Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against the
use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

Rather, the problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it
the substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no
benefit to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad
bargain.

If you use a proper uninstall program right from the beginning and
understand every item that is being deleted from the registry when a
program is uninstalled then the use of a registry cleaner is
unnecessary.
CCleaner is useful for cleaning out unwanted files from the temp
folders. Leave it set on the default settings and it does not harm.
If ever it is used on the registry then it is very mild. All I ever
see that it wants to delete are unused file extensions and links to
download files that I have since deleted to the trash bin.
In the past I have uploaded many web pages for different sites only to
find that different browsers have not always cleaned out the cache
properly and the new pages will not display. CCleaner has at times
been invaluable for doing that.

--
mick

On Sun, 21 Dec 2014 21:44:39 GMT, mick wrote:

CCleaner is useful for cleaning out unwanted files from the temp
folders.


Yes, it is a useful program, if you don't use its registry cleaning
functionality.


Leave it set on the default settings and it does not harm.
If ever it is used on the registry then it is very mild.


Yes, it is less dangerous that most other registry cleaners. But that
does *not* mean its registry cleaning functionality is risk-free.

On 21/12/2014 21:50:48, Ken Blake wrote:
On Sun, 21 Dec 2014 21:44:39 GMT, mick wrote:

CCleaner is useful for cleaning out unwanted files from the temp
folders.

Yes, it is a useful program, if you don't use its registry cleaning
functionality.

Leave it set on the default settings and it does not harm.
If ever it is used on the registry then it is very mild.

Yes, it is less dangerous that most other registry cleaners. But that
does *not* mean its registry cleaning functionality is risk-free.

I agree with you about not being risk free, but then is any other
program like word processors, image editors, newsreaders, etc. risk
free. Sometimes you have to try these things out of curiosity and if
you don't try you don't learn, even if it means making mistakes. To
keep saying do not use registry cleaning is like saying to someone, do
not clean your room. I run a tight and organised ship here and to know
that my registry is dirty does not sit happy with me.

It all depends on how knowledgeable and confident the user is. I have
used jv16 on its most aggressive setting, but you look and read and
understand before allowing it to delete. I have edited the registry
manually with no problems.

The whole issue with anything you want to do or try is backup, backup,
backup before doing just one alteration to a file, deleting one
registry entry or doing any updating. Don't think it won't hurt just
to change that one instance without a backup, because believe me it
does hurt when it goes wrong and I have been there. Get in the habit
of doing it and it doesn't become a chore.

Backup, backup, backup, image, image, image, then go and try all the
crap, dodgey downloads and such like. Learn from your mistakes and you
will understand and enjoy using computers much more with the added
experience to help others.

Its not a pop at you Ken, but I see so many people jumping on the snake
oil bandwagon.

--
mick

On Sun, 21 Dec 2014 22:32:28 GMT, mick wrote:

On 21/12/2014 21:50:48, Ken Blake wrote:
On Sun, 21 Dec 2014 21:44:39 GMT, mick wrote:

CCleaner is useful for cleaning out unwanted files from the temp
folders.

Yes, it is a useful program, if you don't use its registry cleaning
functionality.

Leave it set on the default settings and it does not harm.
If ever it is used on the registry then it is very mild.

Yes, it is less dangerous that most other registry cleaners. But that
does *not* mean its registry cleaning functionality is risk-free.

I agree with you about not being risk free, but then is any other
program like word processors, image editors, newsreaders, etc. risk
free.


Although what you say is true, as far as I'm concerned there's an
*enormous* difference in risk between a registry cleaner and a program
like word processors, image editors, newsreaders, etc. They are two
entirely different kinds of things with entirely different amounts of
risk.

Moreover, you have no choice: you can't avoid the risk in programs
like word processors, image editors, newsreaders, etc. But you can,
and should, avoid the risks in registry cleaners.


Sometimes you have to try these things out of curiosity and if
you don't try you don't learn, even if it means making mistakes.


You have to try *some* kinds of things, but others you don't have to.
Trying a new word processor makes sense. Trying a registry cleaner is
foolhardy.


To
keep saying do not use registry cleaning is like saying to someone, do
not clean your room.


I couldn't disagree more.



I run a tight and organised ship here and to know
that my registry is dirty does not sit happy with me.



Your choice entirely. I can't tell you, or anyone else, what to do; I
can only make recommendations. As far as I'm concerned, what you call
"dirty" is meaningless, and you are looking for trouble.


It all depends on how knowledgeable and confident the user is. I have
used jv16 on its most aggressive setting, but you look and read and
understand before allowing it to delete. I have edited the registry
manually with no problems.


As I, and many of us here, have.


The whole issue with anything you want to do or try is backup, backup,


We *strongly* agree on that.



backup before doing just one alteration to a file, deleting one
registry entry or doing any updating. Don't think it won't hurt just
to change that one instance without a backup, because believe me it
does hurt when it goes wrong and I have been there. Get in the habit
of doing it and it doesn't become a chore.


As much as I agree with you, we will never convince the world at large
to do that. It's far easier to convince them not to take the risk of
running a registry cleaner.



Backup, backup, backup, image, image, image, then go and try all the
crap, dodgey downloads and such like. Learn from your mistakes and you
will understand and enjoy using computers much more with the added
experience to help others.

Its not a pop at you Ken, but I see so many people jumping on the snake
oil bandwagon.


Understood and thanks for the kind words, but it's a bandwagon that
everyone *should* jump on.

On 21/12/2014 23:57:08, Ken Blake wrote:
On Sun, 21 Dec 2014 22:32:28 GMT, mick wrote:

On 21/12/2014 21:50:48, Ken Blake wrote:
On Sun, 21 Dec 2014 21:44:39 GMT, mick wrote:

CCleaner is useful for cleaning out unwanted files from the temp
folders.

Yes, it is a useful program, if you don't use its registry cleaning
functionality.

Leave it set on the default settings and it does not harm.
If ever it is used on the registry then it is very mild.

Yes, it is less dangerous that most other registry cleaners. But that
does *not* mean its registry cleaning functionality is risk-free.

I agree with you about not being risk free, but then is any other
program like word processors, image editors, newsreaders, etc. risk
free.

Although what you say is true, as far as I'm concerned there's an
*enormous* difference in risk between a registry cleaner and a program
like word processors, image editors, newsreaders, etc. They are two
entirely different kinds of things with entirely different amounts of
risk.

Moreover, you have no choice: you can't avoid the risk in programs
like word processors, image editors, newsreaders, etc. But you can,
and should, avoid the risks in registry cleaners.

Sometimes you have to try these things out of curiosity and if
you don't try you don't learn, even if it means making mistakes.

You have to try *some* kinds of things, but others you don't have to.
Trying a new word processor makes sense. Trying a registry cleaner is
foolhardy.

To
keep saying do not use registry cleaning is like saying to someone, do
not clean your room.

I couldn't disagree more.

I run a tight and organised ship here and to know
that my registry is dirty does not sit happy with me.

Your choice entirely. I can't tell you, or anyone else, what to do; I
can only make recommendations. As far as I'm concerned, what you call
"dirty" is meaningless, and you are looking for trouble.

It all depends on how knowledgeable and confident the user is. I have
used jv16 on its most aggressive setting, but you look and read and
understand before allowing it to delete. I have edited the registry
manually with no problems.

As I, and many of us here, have.


The whole issue with anything you want to do or try is backup, backup,

We *strongly* agree on that.

backup before doing just one alteration to a file, deleting one
registry entry or doing any updating. Don't think it won't hurt just
to change that one instance without a backup, because believe me it
does hurt when it goes wrong and I have been there. Get in the habit
of doing it and it doesn't become a chore.

As much as I agree with you, we will never convince the world at large
to do that. It's far easier to convince them not to take the risk of
running a registry cleaner.


Backup, backup, backup, image, image, image, then go and try all the
crap, dodgey downloads and such like. Learn from your mistakes and you
will understand and enjoy using computers much more with the added
experience to help others.

Its not a pop at you Ken, but I see so many people jumping on the snake
oil bandwagon.

Understood and thanks for the kind words, but it's a bandwagon that
everyone *should* jump on.

Once a long time ago we were all novices, before there was any
creditable help and advice. We tried things, we made mistakes, we
learned.
Today we make it too easy and nobody can then solve a simple problem.
We'll agree to dis-agree. :-)

--
mick

On 21/12/2014 6:48 PM, Ammammata wrote:
Il Sun, 21 Dec 2014 10:28:03 -0600, firestorm31 ha scritto:

anti-windows stuff

linux


You take care, now!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/internet-security/11123096/Hackers-already-using-Shellshock-bug-to-attack-victims.html

On 12/21/2014 11:12 AM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
"firestorm31" wrote in message
...
just curious....

what's the best software for antivirus, malware and other
anti-windows stuff I didn't mention & cleaning windows registry.



You'll get a lot of different opinions on this.


I've not had any trouble on 7 with AVG, and found it easy to use.

I've been using AVG Free for years. I really like it, but it apparently
allowed a virus onto my PC that required reinstalling Windows 7. A week
later, I am still reinstalling various applications and trying to
remember how I tweaked Windows 7.

I still have AVG Free 2015 running in the background, but now I also run
(per manual request) Microsoft's Security Essentials and Malwarebytes
Free.

--
David E. Ross

The Crimea is Putin's Sudetenland.
The Ukraine will be Putin's Czechoslovakia.
See http://www.rossde.com/editorials/edtl_PutinUkraine.html.

On 12/21/2014 4:44 PM, mick wrote:
On 21/12/2014 18:52:37, Ken Blake wrote:
On Sun, 21 Dec 2014 10:28:03 -0600, firestorm31
wrote:

just curious....

what's the best software for antivirus, malware and other
anti-windows stuff I didn't mention & cleaning windows registry.

That's like asking which is the better car, a Ford or a Chevrolet.
You'll get different opinions from different people.

So I won't answer the first part of your question, but I do want to
answer the second part:

Registry cleaning programs are *all* snake oil. Cleaning of the
registry isn't needed and is dangerous. Leave the registry alone and
don't use any registry cleaner. Despite what many people think, and
what vendors of registry cleaning software try to convince you of,
having unused registry entries doesn't really hurt you.

The risk of a serious problem caused by a registry cleaner erroneously
removing an entry you need is far greater than any potential benefit
it may have.

Read
http://www.howtogeek.com/171633/why-...r-fix-crashes/

and also
http://blogs.technet.com/markrussino...t-of-life.aspx


You also might want to read the section on the CCleaner Registry
Cleaner he
http://www.howtogeek.com/113382/how-...9-tips-tricks/


Let me point out that neither I nor anyone else who warns against the
use of registry cleaners has ever said that they always cause
problems. If they always caused problems, they would disappear from
the market almost immediately. Many people have used a registry
cleaner and never had a problem with it.

Rather, the problem with a registry cleaner is that it carries with it
the substantial *risk* of having a problem. And since there is no
benefit to using a registry cleaner, running that risk is a very bad
bargain.

If you use a proper uninstall program right from the beginning and
understand every item that is being deleted from the registry when a
program is uninstalled then the use of a registry cleaner is unnecessary.
CCleaner is useful for cleaning out unwanted files from the temp
folders. Leave it set on the default settings and it does not harm. If
ever it is used on the registry then it is very mild. All I ever see
that it wants to delete are unused file extensions and links to download
files that I have since deleted to the trash bin.
In the past I have uploaded many web pages for different sites only to
find that different browsers have not always cleaned out the cache
properly and the new pages will not display. CCleaner has at times been
invaluable for doing that.

If you want to see how many uninstalled apps leave registry entrees
behind try looking at MSCONFIG. I'd say to browse the registy (regedit)
if you have real courage. One thing I like about CCleaner is the option
to back up the registy before anything is "cleaned". I recently removed
many programs I found I never use and saw how many entrees were still
showing in the STARTUP when I ran MSCONFIG. The ONLY way to get rid of
many of these is to edit the registry. I've even had to contact software
venders in the past to get information on what entrees their
applications made.

I can't remember what software I used quite some time ago but it
monitored every registry entree every piece of software made and kept a
record so they can be safely deleted as so many uninstall features
simply just don't completely work.

On 12/21/2014 10:58 PM, David E. Ross wrote:
On 12/21/2014 11:12 AM, J. P. Gilliver (John) wrote:
"firestorm31" wrote in message
...
just curious....

what's the best software for antivirus, malware and other
anti-windows stuff I didn't mention & cleaning windows registry.



You'll get a lot of different opinions on this.


I've not had any trouble on 7 with AVG, and found it easy to use.

I've been using AVG Free for years. I really like it, but it apparently
allowed a virus onto my PC that required reinstalling Windows 7. A week
later, I am still reinstalling various applications and trying to
remember how I tweaked Windows 7.

I still have AVG Free 2015 running in the background, but now I also run
(per manual request) Microsoft's Security Essentials and Malwarebytes
Free.

What? No backup plan?