Computer question

luvmykids wrote: My computer is still giving me trouble, like freezing up, lots of error messages, etc but when I run Norton it says I don't have any viruses. Are there some that get past the program, or is it something else wrong with the computer?

I've been meaning to take it in just haven't wanted to be without it

MommyToAshley replied: I would place a bet that it is spyware. There are lots of sites that will install spyware on your computer once you fill out a form, install a program, or even click on a link.

DH uses a good program to detect and remove all spyware, I will have to ask him the name of the program. We hear this a lot from friends or clients (even though we don't do computer repair as part of our business) and 99% of the time it is spyware.

luvmykids replied: TY, I'd love the name of the program when you have the chance!

1lilpeanut2love replied: I have something called Spybot Search and Destroy. I thinks it's free. Some computer tech guy put it on my computer.

mckayleesmom replied: I use Fix it 5 utilitys and its awesome...whenever my comp starts acting funny...I run it and walla...its fixed.

TheOaf66 replied: I use spy sweeper and a program called Ace Utilities and my anti virus is PC Cillin recommend all of those..

DVFlyer replied: Our computer guy installs SpyBot and AVG (both free) on our PC's.

TLCDad replied: AVG is a good antivirus program. Norton is not bad but it is appears to be a resource hog... because of that I do not recommend it. As for your Norton is it up to date... meaning it has the latest virus definitions as of this month? If not, then odds are you probably have a virus that norton just does not detect because it does not know about it yet. If you have to pay to upgrade your definitions then I would suggest as DVFlyer to uninstall norton and install the free AVG.

As for spyware removers, I recommend Adaware.

Also once you get your computer working perfectly, I highly recommend using some disk imaging backup sofware such as Norton Ghost. This way when your computer starts acting slow you can take 5-10 minutes and restore back to exactly how it was. I do this quite often because I want my PCs running perfectly. I am surprised when I go a month without reimaging.

moped replied:
We use adaware at work and at home!

BAC'sMom replied: I use both AVG and Adaware at home and at work. I'll send you the links.

MyLuvBugs replied: DH says it sounds like Spyware:
- If the errors occur while your using a web browser (IE or Netscape, etc.) then it's definately a spyware problem (his words not mine)

Try downloading SpyBot or Ad-aware SE to help get rid of the spyware. Both are free downloads, and should fix some of the basic problems.

Also, have you ran any Microsoft updates lately? You might want to do that to help block against some of the lastest viruses and stuff also.

luvmykids replied: First, thanks everybody for the advice!

Second, do I also need a personal firewall?

TLCDad replied:
Yes a personal firewall including the built in one included with Windows XP SP2 (service pack 2) is recommend. Is your cable/dsl modem plugged directly in your computer or is it plugged into a router first (for example to share with more than once computer). If you have a router then you have a hard firewall which blocks things coming into your computer, unless you or someone has setup a DMZ zone which forwards everytihng to one computer (which I highly do not recommend).

Also as suggestion, always make sure you run windows update often to download all security patchs from microsoft.

Ashlynn's Mommy replied: I too have spy bot search and destroy on my computer. I would try it. It can't hurt

luvmykids replied:
Gotcha. Thanks again!

luvmykids replied: One more question ...

A minute ago a thing popped up and said "You have been signed out of .NET because you logged on at another location."

WTH does that mean? What is .NET? Does that mean someone has some of my info and is using it somewhere? I know for sure it wasn't me because I'm still sitting right here ...

TLCDad replied: Hmmm not sure... could be from MSN Messagenger. But does sound like someone logged in from your account somewhere else. Do you use two different computers? Maybe one at work and one at home? Or does your husband use the same account somewhere?

luvmykids replied:
No! This is my only computer, DH has his own account and I don't think he even knows my password. Which is what freaked me out ....but wouldn't they have to know my password? I guess they could if I had junk on the computer, right? How serious is that for someone else to sign in, means they see my email and stuff, right?