The real fix is to stop pirating and installing pirated software, whether it be Windows or Mac versions.

 Reply

There are about a dozen top-shelf internet security suites for Windows. The general consensus is that running an unprotected computer is like draining the oil from your engine and then going for a cross-country drive.

You know how people break their Windows machines? Downloading pirated content and opening up suspicious emails.

You wouldn't drive a car for 2 years without getting an oil change, would you? It's called responsible computing and is about as easy as basic car ownership.

 Reply

And stop running Norton. Seriously, Norton is crap. As is McAfee. Just because your computer came with a 6 month trial doesn't mean you shouldn't buy your own.

 Reply

[www.symantec.com]

[www.mcafee.com]

I stopped running anti-virus on my PC completely actually by the way. Its been a year and it hasn't found a single infected file. My Mac has been problemless as well.

The REAL responsible choice would be to purchase the software/music/movies instead of downloading them in a torrent.

 Reply

Further, when the government demanded decryption keys from all the major internet security companies, Norton/Symantec happily handed them over.

McAfee, like Norton, is poorly coded and bulkier than necessary. You have to consider how these companies get their money - by paying to be preinstalled on machines. Both are the lead trialware offenders that people bitch about. Many users don't know any better and just renew subscriptions when they would be better served finding better coded and more secure suites.

It's easy to find good stuff out there. In fact, using the Google Box, I typed "Lifehacker Internet Security" and found Comodo, reviewed about 3 months ago. It's freeware, highly regarded, and got good reviews from a knowledgeable audience. I'll try it out tonight as right now, I just rely on the built-in Windows Firewall and the hardware firewall in my router.

Logan: I don't know what happened with your machine. I never had a problem with a Windows install since XP. I keep the automatic updater on, use the built-in firewall, always run internet security, avoid downloading pirated software, back up my user files regularly, and do a fresh install once or twice a year. I stay away from ActiveX and use Firefox almost exclusively. I also don't tinker with the registry.

The metaphor stands - treat your computer like you'd treat your car. If you can get your oil changed and tires rotated, you can do an annual reinstall. If you can check your fluids, you can run Windows Update. Good computer maintenance isn't hard.

 Reply