popups

[katb]

Thanks, Audrey, I'll try it.

[katb]

Noel, I can't find the email icon either, I have to go via the start menu. I'm also having problems getting an account transferred for Graham and Jason. they still have to go via outlook express.

[noel]

Use Outlook Express then Kate, it doesn't really matter which you use. Actually I still do use OE.

[Spitfire]

Audrey, Please don`t be put off because a program happens to be free. The majority of my programs are `freebies` and I use them because they are the best (not due to cost). I always bought Norton until a specialist, who I had to bring in to set up my home network, replaced it with a free program called `Avast`. He said half his call-outs were caused by Norton. Ad-Aware, Spybot, Zone Alarm and Download Accelerator Plus are just a few of the brilliant free progs that I`m currently using.

[Martin]

Another tip I was given once was to use more than one spyware/adware removal programme beacuse they can often pick up different things.

[katb]

Martin, what spyware etc do you think I should use then? My Norton Antivirus software subscription is about to run out, so I don't know if to renew it or try one or two of the free ones.

[noel]

avg do a good free download Kate. www.grisoft.com

[Spitfire]

Kat, Anti-virus and sypware are two totally different things and you need different programs to protect against each type.
I also used Norton for many years (and paid the annual subscription)until - as I`ve said in an earlier thread - a software expert removed it from both computers and installed Avast in it`s place. It is absloutly free and automatically updates itself every day with new anti-vitus definitions. I cannot speak too highly of this program and would urge anyone to try it. It really is brilliant.
Now for the spyware. Two outstanding free programs always get rave reviews in the computer magazines. Ad-Aware and Spybot Search and Destroy. It is always recommended that both programs are used in tandem, as anything that one misses is picked up by the other and visa versa. I`ve used these for quite a while now - with nothing but good results.
Obviously other people will have other views (like Noel with AVG)and of course many other progs are very good. The ones I have mentioned just happen to work for me.

[MjO]

Kate,

I would certainly echo Noels advice and go for AVG from Grisoft, one of the best of the best, unfortunately they are updating their Free AVG to a new version, as the current version runs out on Feb 18th and will no longer be supported, and as with all software releases it is somtimes wise to let it get out and about for a time to get the bugs fixed before plunging, but that said, their earlier edition wanted some beating, and have yet to evaluate the new offering. Jim has also produced a very valid posting regarding adware and spyware, and both programs are indeed very well received, and appear to remove all sorts of hostile content, much of which does absolutely nothing but sit on your computer, but these have nowhere near the impact of that of a virus protector, as a Trojan, Keylogger or Hostile Applet getting installed on your system can have very far reaching consequences.

As regards smileys and pop-ups and the like, I put some advice together and posted it to the 'Smileys' posting if you are at all interested about safer surfing. But at the end of the day you will get as many opinions as the many people that give them, and it will be up to you to research and evaluate the usefulness of any opinion given. I know a gentleman that spends all day on the Computer visiting all sorts of sites, runs Windows 98 with no anti-spyware or anti-virus software and has never had one problem!! so it pays not to get too paranoid over these issues, certainly if you dont download much executable program content from dubious sites.

Whatever you do, or choose I wish luck ...


MjO ...

[katb]

Thanks everyone, I tried the AVG, but it appears you have to pay for it, so I'm going to try the one Jim suggested.