Antivirus programs, etc..

[Cat]

Does anyone here use Avast! antivirus software? I'm looking for
something besides the McAfee I currently have. I have McAfee because I
have AOL; I have AOL because my husband doesn't want to give it up. But
McAfee is driving me nuts--it detects a virus every time I boot up, and
tells me so half a dozen times. Then when I run the scan, it says my
computer is clean.

Also, is there anyone on here who would feel qualified to look at a
Hijack This! log and tell me what I should take out? I know there are
forums for that, but basically, I already check this newsgroup for posts
and responses, so I thought if I could handle it here, I'd rather do it
that way. I have a nice system, but I've put way too much junk on it
that doesn't need to be here, and it spends a lot of time surfing porn
sites, where I think it picks up creepy-crawlies. (I'm blaming the porn
sites. Surely Deviant Art, Amazon, and eBay aren't the problem, right? :))

I want to be technologically brilliant, but life gives me other
priorities. Sometimes I feel like such a luser... <sigh>

Cat

[Sessifet]

In article <x3pXd.42305$***@fe06.lga>, ***@charter.net
says...

Post by Cat
Does anyone here use Avast! antivirus software? I'm looking for
something besides the McAfee I currently have. I have McAfee because I
have AOL; I have AOL because my husband doesn't want to give it up. But
McAfee is driving me nuts--it detects a virus every time I boot up, and
tells me so half a dozen times. Then when I run the scan, it says my
computer is clean.
Also, is there anyone on here who would feel qualified to look at a
Hijack This! log and tell me what I should take out? I know there are
forums for that, but basically, I already check this newsgroup for posts
and responses, so I thought if I could handle it here, I'd rather do it
that way. I have a nice system, but I've put way too much junk on it
that doesn't need to be here, and it spends a lot of time surfing porn
sites, where I think it picks up creepy-crawlies. (I'm blaming the porn
sites. Surely Deviant Art, Amazon, and eBay aren't the problem, right? :))
I want to be technologically brilliant, but life gives me other
priorities. Sometimes I feel like such a luser... <sigh>
Cat

I use Avast. It's quite good. You have to register after 60 days of use
though, but it's free and very easy to use.

You can download it here:

http://www.avast.com/eng/down_home.html

Cheers

Karen

[Phil Davison]

Post by Cat
Does anyone here use Avast! antivirus software? I'm looking for
something besides the McAfee I currently have. I have McAfee because I
have AOL; I have AOL because my husband doesn't want to give it up. But
McAfee is driving me nuts--it detects a virus every time I boot up, and
tells me so half a dozen times. Then when I run the scan, it says my
computer is clean.

Ah, yes. McAfee! I bought a laptop which came preloaded with McAfee but
without the ability to update it because I didn't want to pay their
prices. Anyway, my OS of choice is Linux rather than Windows and there
isn't much point in paying for the updates. When I advised McAfee that I
would not be taking up their offer for that reason I got the following...

: We are unable to  understand your message. Please rephrase and resend
: your issue so that we can assist you.
:
:
My reply to that was...
: I think I perceive a training need!  If you don't know what Linux is,
: are you sure you should be giving on-line support in the computer
: industry?

If I were you I would use anything but McAfee. Avast has a fairly good
reputation and wins awards. If you have used on-line virus scanning sites
you might get viruses detected which are actually from one of those sites
but the only one I heard about with this problem was Panda ActiveScan.
BTW, don't forget to uninstall McAfee before installing Avast. Two AV
programs can cause conflicts.

<Snip>

Post by Cat
I want to be technologically brilliant, but life gives me other
priorities. Sometimes I feel like such a luser... <sigh>

It happens. Just threaten your computer with a big mallet every now and
again and remind it that you are brighter/better/more intelligent than it
is. This doesn't actually have any effect on the machine but it will
probably make you feel better (so long as you don't carry out the threat!).

[Len Oil]

Post by Phil Davison
Ah, yes. McAfee! I bought a laptop which came preloaded with McAfee but
without the ability to update it because I didn't want to pay their
prices. Anyway, my OS of choice is Linux rather than Windows and there
isn't much point in paying for the updates. When I advised McAfee that I
would not be taking up their offer for that reason I got the

following...

Post by Phil Davison
: We are unable to understand your message. Please rephrase and resend
: your issue so that we can assist you.

Sounds like McAfee are attempting an advanced form of automated
standardised reply[1] system reply, but probably without a human agent
involved at all. They /can/ work, within the bounds of predicted
keywords, but I bet your mention of Linux wasn't anticipated. Whether
or not it was, an awfully bad show to have had either dumb program or
dumb person on the receiving end of what might essentially be their last
opportunity to keep someone's business...

[1] As made famous by the old support replies that were essentially
formed by staff with checklists saying "send paragraphs 3, 7 and 19, it
sounds like it's either the power cord, CD eject button or something to
do with the case facia"... :)

[Phil Davison]

Post by Phil Davison

Post by Phil Davison
Ah, yes. McAfee! I bought a laptop which came preloaded with McAfee

but

Post by Phil Davison
without the ability to update it because I didn't want to pay their
prices. Anyway, my OS of choice is Linux rather than Windows and there
isn't much point in paying for the updates. When I advised McAfee

that I

Post by Phil Davison
would not be taking up their offer for that reason I got the

following...

Post by Phil Davison
: We are unable to understand your message. Please rephrase and resend
: your issue so that we can assist you.

Sounds like McAfee are attempting an advanced form of automated
standardised reply[1] system reply, but probably without a human agent
involved at all. They /can/ work, within the bounds of predicted
keywords, but I bet your mention of Linux wasn't anticipated. Whether or
not it was, an awfully bad show to have had either dumb program or dumb
person on the receiving end of what might essentially be their last
opportunity to keep someone's business...
[1] As made famous by the old support replies that were essentially formed
by staff with checklists saying "send paragraphs 3, 7 and 19, it sounds
like it's either the power cord, CD eject button or something to do with
the case facia"... :)

You're probably right. Following my reply I haven't had any more of their
sales pitches. It does make them look stupid though.