PC World Community: Should I Switch from Norton 360 to AVG ...

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33 Replies Last post: Jun 25, 2008 5:46 PM by coastie65 Go to original post 1 2 3 Previous Next

SpiritWind

1,293 posts since
Aug 19, 2006

30. Jun 24, 2008 8:53 PM

in response to: cyndia63

Re: Should I Switch from Norton 360 to AVG

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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

http://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 .

For the BEST in what COUNTS in LIFE : http://www.tacf.org

Flashorn

1,648 posts since
May 19, 2007

31. Jun 25, 2008 2:33 AM

in response to: cyndia63

Re: Should I Switch from Norton 360 to AVG

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

Patience is life.

cyndia63

8 posts since
Jun 19, 2008

32. Jun 25, 2008 5:15 PM

in response to: SpiritWind

Re: Should I Switch from Norton 360 to AVG

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

4,083 posts since
Apr 2, 2007

33. Jun 25, 2008 5:46 PM

in response to: cyndia63

Re: Should I Switch from Norton 360 to AVG

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.

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.

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coastie

eMachines T5212.... Intel Pentium D 945 3.4Ghz..... evga 8600 GT 256 Mb PCI-E video card..... Realtec HD audio......2 Gb 533 Mhz DDR2 memory..... Lite on CD RW; DVD +R / RW DL optical drive...... Windows XP MCE 2005....... Antec Basiq 500w PSU......200 Gb PATA HDD

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