<p>We moved to open source software Ubuntu. Gave up on microsoft all together, an now we sleep well at night. :)</p>
<p>It is free to download so try it. Works as good as anything you’ve known (and will seem very familliar to you).</p>
<p>I did a lot of research and talked to several pros and, between Avast and AVG, nobody recommend AVG over AVAST. The online reviews suggested the same thing. I have been pleased with AVAST, even for Spyware.</p>
<p>^^ well, on cnet, the most popular antivirus downloads list AVG ahead of Avast. Both are great programs.
[Security</a> Software - Free Software Downloads and Software Reviews - Download.com](<a href=“http://www.download.com/windows/security-software/2001-2023_4-0.html?tag=rb_content;contentNav]Security”>http://www.download.com/windows/security-software/2001-2023_4-0.html?tag=rb_content;contentNav)</p>
<p>My tech guy said that avast is more likely to slow down the computer. I did have it before.</p>
<p>I am a BIG fan of malwarebytes. Awesome program - saved my computer AND my son’s. And it seems to be the only program that successfully fights AntiVirus 2009, a really nasty trojan that can bring down your whole computer. I also use Trend Microcillin, Spy Bot Search and Destroy, and Registry Booster to keep the registry optimized. </p>
<p>While we’re on the topic of computers crashing, be sure to invest in a good backup system. I just got a clickfree transformer and plugged it into my external hard drive. Very easy to understand it it backs up all your valuable files like email, pics, music. If your computer crashes, it guides you through restoring the files. Pretty cool. For those w/o an external hard drive, they also sell a version that includes the hard drive. The WSJ gave these products a big thumbs up!</p>
<p>I ran Malwarebytes after reading this thread last night - fortunately, nothing found. I also use Spybot regularly. My Norton subscription is up on my desktop so I have to remove that and install a free program. I have heard that removal is not all that easy. I always hated Norton but didn’t know any better than to buy it.</p>
<p>Well, see this is what is so confusing to me!!!</p>
<p>If you have Spybots then why do you need Malwarebytes - aren’t they both for spyware???</p>
<p>Isn’t there a difference between spyware programs and virus programs? I thought I should have one of each???</p>
<p>One of each is fine. My sense is that it is okay to have more than one anti-spyware program, but you should stick to one anti-virus program. I stand to be corrected, however.</p>
<p>if you are so inclined, you might also try [url=<a href=“https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/722]noscript[/url”>NoScript Security Suite – Get this Extension for 🦊 Firefox (en-US)]noscript[/url</a>]</p>
<p>it’s an addon for firefox that doesn’t let any websites run scripts on your computer unless you specifically allow them to. makes me feel so much safer…but it can be a pain in the butt at the beginning or for inexperienced users because you have to specifically add each one to your white list.</p>
<p>“One of each is fine. My sense is that it is okay to have more than one anti-spyware program, but you should stick to one anti-virus program.”
This is also my recommendation. </p>
<p>"If you have Spybots then why do you need Malwarebytes - aren’t they both for spyware???
Spybot is completely free. Malwarebytes will do a spyware scan free, but requires a subscription to remove any infestations it finds .</p>
<p>Mayday Mayday! I thought this might be a good place to get some free tech support. For the past few days, DH and I have been unable to load two frequently visited websites. It seems to have coincided with my opting to “Clear Private Data” in Mozilla Firefox. Can you tell me how to correct this so that we can once again open those sites (both of which are highly respectable!) Open to all suggestions. Thanks.</p>
<p>You mean if you put the site in the address line and hit enter it won’t load? What happens?</p>
<p>That is what I mean but I think I may have come up with a solution. I typed the company name in my Google search bar and it brought up the URL for that website. Rather than click on that link, I clicked where it said “cached” and it then loaded.</p>
<p>I had the same problem and could not get onto hotmail for months. I had to use IE to check my email :eek: Now suddenly I can access it again. No idea why.</p>
<p>Did you try other sites? Could it be that the site is having an issue? When you load from cache you generally aren’t actually going to the site - just pulling from cache on your PC.</p>
<p>uudad, you’re right. Problem not solved :(</p>
<p>Is it only those two sites - i.e. are you using the same browser to post here? </p>
<p>Can you access those sites with IE?</p>
<p>When you put the site in the address bar did you make sure to type the entire URL (<a href=“http://www.blahblah.com)?%5B/url%5D”>http://www.blahblah.com)?</a></p>
<p>I used to use Spybot and Adaware…I’d run one or another every other week and Hijack This once or twice a year on our family computer. I use Norton Anti-Virus as my anti-virus software. I just ran Malwarebytes per all you posters and it cleaned up nice. I think I’ll delete Ad-aware and continue on with Malwarebytes. My family computer is 6 years old but keeps on chuggin’ but no DVD only CD and only one USB port …yikes…no wonder the kids are whinning. I could get 4 decent laptops, one for everybody, for the price I paid for the relic.</p>
<p>I use Avast, Windows Defender, Spybot, Ad-Aware and Hijack-This on my Windows systems. Fortunately I do almost all of my computing on Mac OSX these days.</p>
<p>It’s all kind of amazing considering I keypunched into grad school so calculators and PCs came of age well into my adulthood and I am a liberal arts grad no “techie” by anymeans. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!</p>