Lurker with AIM Question

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Lurker with AIM Question
6
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 10:00pm

Hi,

My daughter's computer had to be restored and once I had it set up, she downloaded and started using AIM. While I don't have a problem with that, the computer has been plagued with viruses and spyware, despite my installing PC-Cillin Internet Security and other antivirus/antispyware programs. Does anyone have any experience or advice about how to keep her computer clean? I should mention that she's also using Facebook, though when she was using it on my computer we never had a problem.

TIA,

Deborah

Avatar for bookwormmom
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-22-2003
Mon, 09-10-2007 - 10:43pm
My dd has been using AIM for years and I don't think we have had any problems due to using it. It seems that no matter what you do there will always be some of the junk that gets in. There are tons of sights that you can get it from. All you have to do is go to them and somehow they get into the computer.
When I was having a problem with my computer running slow I had it cleaned out by a really great guy that does that kind of work and one of the things he told me was that because we have our own website that has our e-mail address on it, we will get advertising etc. just because of the fact that it is out there. I don't know how they find all the different websites and e-mail addy's but they do.
We do have a good anti virus etc and we havn't had too many problems recently.
Good luck in getting rid of your problems.
Kristie
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Avatar for weberdns0
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2000
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 9:51am
I run a virus and spyware scan every day.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 8:12pm


Get a firewall and get AVG. It's excellent. Also, make sure you have Windows Defender up and running.

You also have to scan the computer every other day.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-19-2003
Tue, 09-11-2007 - 8:24pm

My experience has been that it is impossible to avoid spyware 100% despite the many precautions you might have on your computer. I have anti-viral, anti-spyware, security on my browser, I take precautions about clicking on ads on sites and I block pop-ups, I scan all incoming email etc etc etc.

I have a grand total of 7 different programs installed on my machine to find and clean out spyware. And I find that the only solution is to run these programs regularly.

I run Spybot once a week. Spybot is a free program you can download off any freeware/shareware site. I run super detection programs maybe once a month like Ad Aware SE or Super Anti-Spyware. And I have my McAfee program running, scanning things all the time. Each time I run Spybot I'll find a dozen or so different pieces of spyware to remove. I can run the super detection programs immediately afterwards and they'll find even MORE.

I've had several instances of spyware and malware being put on my machine that required special removal. I joined two different boards (geeks2go.com and techguy.org) where I can post my problems and they send me step by step instructions on how to remove the issue.

Its alot of work maintaining the computer but its necessary given the investment in this system. I totally LOST one computer from invasive spyware and viruses. My machine was ruined. So I take this seriously now. I'd suggest looking into various spyware removal and monitoring processes that you can run regularly.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 09-13-2007 - 6:05pm

Thank you all for your software recommendations! I have downloaded and installed

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-28-2007
Fri, 09-14-2007 - 2:00am
I have the computer repairman check her computer when he is fixing mine.