Forum Discussion

5thwheeleroldma's avatar
Sep 12, 2014

Easy to Clean Up Computer?

Stopzilla tells me I need to pay them $150 to "clean" my computer; that it's full of junk and keeping their antivirus, etc scans from working properly.

Do I really need to do this, or are they just taking advantage of my stupidity?
  • Or, you could get a chrome book and not need any of the aforementioned stuff. I have just about quit using my laptop completely as I have found the chrome book does pretty much all I do on a daily basis. Just sayin'.
  • Scam! Stay away! Lots of good free products out there that do a great job. Here's a list of things to do to protect your computer. I can't stress enough that prevention is not that hard and it doesn't cost anything.

    Remove Malware Magnets - Goes for both Windows and MAC
    • JAVA – just get rid of it. Very few people need it for anything. Remove all versions of JAVA in Programs and Features.
    • Flash player - If you really need it for some YouTube videos and other things, make sure to keep it up to date with the latest version
    • Adobe Reader (replace with PDF XChange Viewer or similar, http://www.tracker-software.com/product/pdf-xchange-viewer)


    Use Open DNS http://www.opendns.com/
    • Free web and malware filtering for home users for Windows, MAC, Android, iOS
    • Intended to be a "net nanny" for families, but anyone can benefit from this
    • Automatically blocks known identity theft and phishing websites
    • Nothing to install on your machines
    • Set up your home router with OpenDNS and all your DHCP devices are protected
    • Highly configurable, many built in categories, can allow or deny specific URLs as needed
    • Nice, easy to read and access logging


    Use Bluecoat K9 http://www1.k9webprotection.com/
    • Free web and malware filtering for home users, for Windows, MAC, Android, iOS, uses the same engine and database as their commercial security appliances use
    • Intended to be a "net nanny" for families, but anyone can benefit from this
    • Automatically blocks known scam, spyware, and malware websites
    • Must install software on each device, doesn't slow down the device
    • Highly configurable, many built in catagories, can allow or deny specific URLs as needed, however must be configured on each device
    • Nice, easy to read and access logging
    • Cannot remove existing malware, but will block outgoing malware "phone home" attempts


    RogueKiller http://www.adlice.com/softwares/roguekiller/
    • Free malware/rootkit scanner
    • Windows only


    Malwarebytes Free https://www.malwarebytes.org/free/
    • Free malware scanner
    • Windows only


    Secunia PSI (Personal Software Inspector) http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/personal/
    • Free
    • Windows only
    • Scans all your installed software and reports what's out of support, what's missing security patches, and what's up to date
  • 4aSong wrote:
    I use CCleaner, Malwarebytes, etc. and above all watch where I go on the internet.


    X2
    Free and work great
  • I use CCleaner, Malwarebytes, etc. and above all watch where I go on the internet.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    We use the free stuff here namely ADVANCED SYSTEM CARE and AVG... AVG runs in the back ground and tells you when things happens it doesn't like.

    I also run MALWAREBYTES ANTI-MALWARE which is also FREE...

    Works good here for US...

    Roy Ken

About RV Must Haves

Have a product you cannot live without? Share it with the community!8,793 PostsLatest Activity: Aug 22, 2023