Antivirus

[Pufferpunk]

After loading the software suggested by Jose, my comp started working so slow, I couldn't use it, so I did restore to a point before I loaded that stuff. Now that I see McAvee is purchased until 2012, i should be able to get them to work with me for free.

[Dadof4]

Yeah, registry cleaners like those can be dangerous. Best to run an AV program continuously and a ad ware cleaner once a week. Honestly, I run Avast!, Spy-bot S&D, and Ad-aware on my windows machine. If I really want to be secure I run in Ubuntu Linux....

[JoseDepacos]

After loading the software suggested by Jose, my comp started working so slow, I couldn't use it, so I did restore to a point before I loaded that stuff. Now that I see McAvee is purchased until 2012, i should be able to get them to work with me for free.

Sorry to hear you had an issue with it. I couldnt be happier and these programs keep my system running smooth and fast. Odd.

[Brandon8521]

PP did you get a key code when you first activated the anativirus? You should be able to redownload it and when it ask for the key code just enter your keycode and the subscription is just continued.

[purplecandle]

After loading the software suggested by Jose, my comp started working so slow, I couldn't use it, so I did restore to a point before I loaded that stuff. Now that I see McAvee is purchased until 2012, i should be able to get them to work with me for free.

I am not surprised, Mcafee is a CPU and Virtual memory hog and adding a new program to your start up processes is probably what slowed it down.

Do you know how to check to see how much VM your start up process are taking up?

[Pufferpunk]

I don't know how to do that. It's still pretty slow but better than before. I had a long chat with McAvee this morning & they removed & reloaded the program. It's new & improved!

[purplecandle]

Go to your task manager. Usually just click anywhere on the bar at the bottom of your screen
Right click the bar, click task manager.

Up will pop a box

click on the processes tab, you will then see all of the processes running on your machine

Click on view

Click on select columns

Check the virtual memory box, click ok

Now you should be able to scroll to the right, and see a column marked VM size

Click on where it says VM size, and that will put the processes in order from what is using the least to what is using the most.

You can then find out what processes are running on your computer and what process are using the most Virtual memory. You can also end those processes. But, most of the time they will come back on when you restart your computer

McAfee will have at least 3 processes running, do not end those.

If you find any processes that look suspicious.. type their names into Google and find out what they are before ending them

I find that when my computer is moving slow...usually a process is using up VM, CPUs

[Pufferpunk]

Thanks! Will do when I get back & let you know how it goes.

[SnailSnacks]

Glad to hear Mcafee came thru for U!

[Nick]

Having worked as a computer tech for many years, I haven't run any kind of antivirus or anti spyware in nearly ten years, and still haven't gotten infected. This is possible for two reasons:

1) I won't use internet explorer. Firefox I can trust not to run scripts or execute downloads without my approval, IE has too many workarounds. Firefox also has plugins to show the trustworthyness of sites you may turn up in google - it's a good first warning, if that addon thinks a site could be trouble, you never say yes to anything the web page asks you to let it do.

2) I don't let any weird crap install itself, ever. I don't care if I won't be able to view the special sparkley cursors on the special web site my cousin linked me to, or if I won't get my SPECIAL DISCOUNT CUPON(sic). If I don't know what something is, I will not let it run.

This has prevented all viruses, worms, etc since 2000.

Also, if you run windows, you do need to keep it updated. 90% of what antivirus programs do is temporarily patch an exploit Microsoft will eliminate from the software altogether with an update in a under a week.

The reason I won't run antivirus software is the slowdown. If it monitors everything that goes on/off the hard drive(which most comprehensive suites do, as well as many free ones), that about doubles the HDD access time, sometimes way more than doubles. This is already the biggest bottleneck on operating speed in any computer without a RAID array or solid state drives. I paid good money to boot from a WD Raptor SATA HDD. so having it operate at half speed is not going to happen.

[pufferpuggirl]

Wow, you're one technical guy, aren't you Nick?

[Nick]

Heh, yes, I suppose so.

[purplecandle]

Sorry to hijack..

Nick or any one who is computer savy..

I use mcafee....and I think it slows down my computer via use of vitrual memeory and such (I am not sure if that is how it works, but I know it uses alot of virtual memory..

Right this second...I just opened firefox

Firefox is open and my only tab is the puffer forrum..

Firefox VM = 122,744 (this is a little high, usually it is a lot less)

McAfee = 128,420 & 35,156 & 26,388

Should I get rid of the Mcafee? If so What should I use?

[~reefchik~]

I always hated McAfee. Norton is way bloated and slows your computer down worse than any of them - it used to be a good product until about 3 yrs ago. Now it takes over.

I personally use the free version of AVG on my laptop and Avast on my business desktop. I run AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy, do not allow any automatic Windows downloads until I check them out myself, and also I too use Firefox as my main browser. I like Chrome on occasions.

I agree with NIck about not downloading freebies from the web, such as new toolbars and graphics and Smiley programs. They will load you up with all sorts of spyware. Another issue is opening forwarded emails from people. Some of us have friends who have to FW: every single "Read this and Do Not Delete or Your Face will Fall off" email on earth. Google virus and emails and you'll see what I mean - lots of tech sites with warnings about it.

Hopefully PP, you will continue to have luck with McAfee, but if not, good luck getting it off your computer. I found it is nearly impossible to completely delete no matter what you do. I'm not afraid to mess with registry entries and even for me, I couldn't rid my pre-loaded laptop of it without reformatting. So be prepared...