[mcbarker]

Yeah, I believe Zone Alarm was the only one suggested, and I chose it because it's very easy to set up for someone who doesn't know a lot about the technical side of computers. As far as I know, Norton 360 has antivirus, antispyware and firewall built in.

[mcbarker]

I agree about NOD32... It's an excellent antivirus solution if you don't mind paying.

[cyndia63]

Thanks again to everyone for all your help. To Flashorn and Mcbarker- you were both extremely patient and thorough in explaining things, I felt very at ease when I switched things over. I am now using Avast, Zone Alarm, Superantispyware, and Finjan. The funniest thing was, I already had the Norton Removal Tool on my computer from the last time I upgraded my Norton package. The only glitch was Zone Alarm wouldn't run, I had to go online and download it again. I loaded everything else offline, but for some reason an error came up when I tried to load Zone Alarm. I also tried the Secunia software inspector and had quite a few things I had to update (and delete, good grief , I had no idea I had so many old updates in my program files.)

I'll let you know how things go, and once again, I can't begin to thank you all enough for your help. This would be the first place I would send a friend with questions about their PC. Cyndia

[Flashorn]

Hey cyndia!!



You are very welcomed!



I'm glad you were able to get around all of those apps.

You did get Zone Alarm to run right?

Once you had all of your new security on line , did you run FULL

SCANS on your PC?

This would be important only if to see how they work and

compare to your old ones. Also to see if any malware was

missed by your previous security.



One other matter. How often do you Defrag and Clean out

the Temps Files.

here is the link to a very good cleaning app. Atribune.org ATF-Cleaner .

Actually it is only

an .exe, so , it won't install. Just double click on the .exe

and choose what you want to clean.

Here is a screen shot of this .exe and what should be checked marked:

!http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!



And then , once the files are cleaned (it will take but a few seconds)

you will get a pop-up telling you how much space it has liberated.

!http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!



If there is anything else you are concerned with well,

you know were to find us.





FLASHORN.

[mcbarker]

Hi Cyndia... Glad you got everything working. !http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1!



As Flashorn mentioned, keeping your hard drive defragged will help keep your system running as fast as possible. Remember to keep the signature files for your new programs updated, and run regular scans. By the way, have you noticed any change in speed since losing Norton?

[cyndia63]

Ok guys, why can't I just go to control panel and into the Internet file and delete cookies and temp. files there? By the way, when I went to the website to run the clean up tool mentioned above, a box on my screen started flashing, a siren went off and Avast said there was a virus detected. It told me what action to take, but when I tried to take the suggested action, another window popped up that said the file was being used by another program. It was a temp internet file that was shown, so I went in and deleted all the temps as I mentioned above. Crud, I'm going to encounter all sorts of things I never did before. How is defragmentation different from deleting temp files? That's one of those terms that I just never really worked with.

As for running scans, the Avast takes a while, so I'll run it tonight. The others kind of just did their thing after I installed them. The Zone Alarm seems to be just fine, it keeps popping up asking if certain actions are allowed. Haven't noticed any speed change yet, but things keep happening with the new stuff so it's not very smooth yet. Does anyone know how to get the norton icons off my screen? Even after running the removal tool the removal tool icon and another one, backupset, are still there. I can't even put them in the Unused desktop shortcuts file. Of course, they don't have the little shortcut arrows on them either. Any ideas?

Thanks as always, Cyndia

[SpiritWind]

Hi Cyndia :
The "Norton Removal Tool" is periodically "Updated", so based on you saying you already

had "it" on your computer AND the Norton Icons are still there leads to my Recommending

you "Uninstall" that "Version", then go to a Site such as

www.majorgeeks.com/Norton[uRemoval[/u]ToolSymNRTd4749.html] and run its

"Version" . I do NOT run Avast Scans, relying on it for "real-time" protection ONLY; the

last Scan I ran was Feb 8, 2008 .

The Scans I do run are my

antiSPYWARE/antiTROJAN programs, which are SUPERAntiSpyware and

MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware about once every 10 days .

Regarding "Temp Files" : there are 2 different types of these; One is called "Temporary

Internet Files" & the Other "Temporary Files" . ONLY the former can be "Deleted" by the

"Internet Options" Menu as can "Cookies" . The "Temporary Files" can be deleted by using

the Built-In Windows "Disk CleanUp" Utility . Rather than having to go to separate locations

on your computer, it would be a lot easier to use the FREE program "ATF Cleaner" that was

mentioned earlier. I usually use this program

about once every 4 days, primarily because my "Java Cache" gets "Full" playing games on

Pogo.com and needs to be emptied to continue using that Site . IF this is the "Clean Up

Tool" you mentioned in your Post something apparently went "wrong" in getting this program !?

I have been using Avast AND ATF Cleaner on my Win XP computer for quite a while without

any "alert" from Avast . Did you go to [http://www.atribune.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=25&Itemid=25]

and click on the red "ATF Cleaner" to start the Download "Process" !? As "Flash"

mentioned, this program NEVER gets "Installed" on a computer; an Icon appears on your

Desktop, which is subsequently LEFT-clicked to access, then use its menu .

[Flashorn]

Hey cyndia!!



OK, your way is also good but, having the ATF Cleaner around is SOOO much easier

not to mention that this little .exe will only delete the right files. Now, as you can see , if you had used the

ATF Cleaner , that Temp file would not have bothered you.When you clicked on the link that I posted

if Avast came up , it must have been what is called a "False Positive" meaning,that Avast "thought"

that a file on the web site in question was "acting" as a virus. DO NOT WORRY about it. Avast is using what

is called a "Heuristic" type scanning. This detection method will warn you that "MAYBE" there is a virus or other

types of malware. DO NOT WORRY. Most of us here at PCWorld forum either use or have used this little .exe

for some time now and I can assure you that it is safe. I use ATF at least once a week.



OK, now for the De fragmentation:

This is a procedure that has to be done once a month if you do not use the PC that much

but, if you are on the computer every day , or if you work at home with your PC then

I suggest you do it more often.



This is what a Defrag consists of:

First I'll tell you how to access it in XP:

Go to Start , then Control Panel, from there you will see a link called

"Performance and Maintenance"

click on that one.

Another panel will appear

The last entry should say something to the effect:

"Reorganize or Consolidate the files on your hard drive:

click on that link .

Now, another window will appear with the option to

"Analise" your hard drive and also to "Defragment" your hard drive

Just click on the De fragment option and go for a coffee.

If you have never done this before , it probably will take some time.



Now to Explain what this feature does:

As you work with your PC you constantly access the hard drive or

rather the Files on your hard drive.

Over time , these Files get scattered over the surface of the hard drive.

Fragments of these files are not put back in their proper place so, the hard drive has to

"Look" for these fragments in order for you to work with them.

Hence , the word "De fragment" meaning , that those displaced files are beeing

put back where they belong making the access of these files allot faster.

So, you will get what will seem like a boost of speed from this procedure alone.



Now , for the Norton Removal Tool, if you used the Older one on your PC , I would recommend

you uninstall the present one and download a newer version. This will probably solve your situation.

: [Noton Removal Tool for Win 2000/XP/Vista|ftp://ftp.symantec.com/public/englishuscanada/removaltools/NortonRemoval_Tool.exe] .



Click on the link above and Save the file to your Documents and Run the uninstall tool

once again.



As for Zone Alarm , Most if not all Firewalls need to Learn your web browsing habits.

So, until it has all of the pertinent information, it will continue to ask for permissions.

Also , when you "up-date" a program and the program changes configuration

due to the up-date , the Firewall will still ask for your permission to let this new

configuration interact with the internet.



I hope this will help you understand a little more about the installed programs

and how to maintain good maintenance habits.

If you feel the need to ask about anything, do not hesitate, come back to this thread

and we will answer as best we can.





FLASHORN.

[cyndia63]

Hi Guys,

I downloaded the Norton removal and ran it again, then went through my document areas and deleted anything with the word Norton or Symantec. After deleting in desktop I finally got the icons off my screen. Ran disk clean up, ran a defrag ("you do not need to deframent this volume") I have 55% free space on my disk. Went to ATF to clean up anything remaining (you're right Flashorn, it's fast), things do seem faster. Does anyone know what Lava files are? Do they pertain to anything I might actually need on my computer? So far things are going swimmingly.

You are all wonderful and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help. I'll definitely be back whenever I have any questions. Do you all participate in other threads (other than security?). Flashorn, your step by step instructions have been a tremendous aid, thanks again for your patience. One more question, Spiritwind mentioned malware protection, should I get that as well?

Gotta go spend some time with my boy, "talk" to you later, Cyndia

[coastie65]

Hey cyndia, Lava is probably lavasoft ( AdAware ) an anti spyware app. I don't know if you have it installed or had it installed. If the latter, then it is probably some leftover stuff after it was uninstalled. If you have AdAware installed, then leave it alone. :D coastie65

[SpiritWind]

Hi Cyndia :



It is wise to have at least 1 ( better is 2 ) antiSPYWARE/antiTROJAN program(s) to

"complement" an antiVIRUS program . I use 2 FREE Ones, namely "SUPERAntiSpyware"

( that I mentioned earlier ) AND MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware, available from

www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php ( just click the green "Download" button to start

the "process" ) .

As to what "Lava" files you have is just a guess ; IF you want something more definite, then

download a FREE program called "HijackThis" from [http://www.filehippo.com/download_hijackthis] .

After this program is "Installed", click the "Open the Misc Tools section" button, then click the

"Open Uninstall Manager" button . Hopefully a "List" should appear; IF "it" does, "copy & paste"

that "List" into a Post here and we will take a look at "What" it says is on your computer .

[Flashorn]

Hey cyndia!!



You are welcomed. I'm glad the steps to follow were of some help.



Now that you got everything Norton off of your PC , did you go through

your "Program Files".

To access " go to Start , My Computer , double click on C:Drive ,

A page will come up with a whole bunch of folders.Among them,

you will see one named "Program Files". Double click on that folder.

In that folder you will see allot more folders, mostly ALL of the

programs installed on your PC.

They should all be in alphabetical order.

Verify that ANY Program that was uninstalled does NOT have a folder

left behind. IF there are any folders left behind in the "Program Files"

folder , PLZ right click them and Delete that file.It does not belong there anymore.



As for participating in other threads , WE have been together for at lest a year

some longer and YES , whenever we can provide any additional info. we all

cooperate together.That is one of the strengths of this Community.



As Spirit said, it would be beneficial to have a extra "On Demand" malware scanner.

This scanner would only be activated when needed. Not all scanners look for the same kind of malware.



I have been using MalwareBytes for sometime now and it is very reliable and effective.

So, follow Spirit's recommendation and install.



You also get the added benefit of having a "Context Menu" or "Right Click" option to

scan any file that you download "Before" you open it to see if the downloaded file contains

any malware Before you open it.

This Should be Done with ANY file you download whether trusted or otherwise.



Ok,cyndia, If there is anything else just ring!



FLASHORN

[cyndia63]

Thanks Flashorn and Spiritwind, after I asked about the Lava files, I Googled the entire file name and came up with what our other friend had already identified, Adware. However, since the only things on my computer that couldn't be scanned by Avast were the Lava files, it made me uncomfortable. I probably was online at some point and had been reading about spyware and such, saw an ad for the Adware and downloaded it. (See why I need people like you in my life?)Anyway, I downloaded the malwarebytes as you suggested Spirit and guess what ?! I ran just a quick scan today and the fourteen things that the scan identified as a threat were almost all Adware items. Pretty weird, especially since I deleted the Lava files last night. These things are just so sneaky, it's like weeds in a garden, just when you think you've pulled them all, another shows up. I did find other files that I can't identify, so I might try your filehippo suggestion as soon as I have more time to mess with my computer.

I haven't had a chance to follow you're latest suggestions Flash, but I'll get to it sometime in the next few days. It's not that I don't want to do it, but life does get in the way sometimes. I have to tell you, I think I've told everyone in my office about all of you, and they seem a bit incredulous that there are people like you out there ready to help. If I'd hired someone to help with the "problems", they would've fixed everything, and I wouldn't have learned any of it. Not to mention the cost. And as with the Lava, for people like me it's so hard to know exactly what the best thing is. We're bombarded with warnings and ads and it's difficult to know what's legit and what's not. Kudos to you all. Cyndia

[coastie65]

Hey cyndia, As spiritwind suggested, SUPERantispyware is a very good FREE program. I have it installed as well, but as a redundancy to Webroot Spysweeper. I also use Avast!. Don't let that disembodied voice spook you on the updates. :D Most of what those things find when doing a scan are cookies, and yes, by going to Control Panel and internet options, you can delete them and any files, but it is always advisable to run a regular scan as well. Yeah, that is the downside to the internet, as soon as you get there, you start picking up more cookies than Nabisco. You could always crank the settings up as far as they go, but then you would be prevented from entering a lot of sites. I have mine set to medium which is fine, I guess and I dump em on a regualr basis, plus scan at least once a week. Two things you should look for in an antispyware program is anti hijacking and anti keylogging capabilities. You don't want someone hijacking your computer or looking over your shoulder ( figuratively ) when you are entering your card # to pay for an online purchase or keying in other personal stuff. !http://forums.pcworld.com/legacyimages/
1! coastie