Easy to Clean Up Computer?

5thwheeleroldman wrote:
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?

They're completely taking advantage of the fact that you are not aware that there exists a number of freely available utilities, to clean and protect you system. It's more marketing hype than anything. First, and foremost, uninstall it!

FrankShore wrote:
I'm just saying the list you posted would be a little overwhelming for anyone who isn't "tech savvy" as the OP appears to be.

Interesting observation. What do you consider so overwhelming? It's pretty simple stuff, the list is organized and bulleted; "Here's a list of things you can do to protect your computer and why you might to consider using them". I've posted this list before and have been thanked for doing so.

I'm just saying the list you posted would be a little overwhelming for anyone who isn't "tech savvy" as the OP appears to be.

FrankShore wrote:

Do you really think a user who isn't even sure something is "ScamWare" is going to have the skill set to download and configure any of the programs that you mentioned in your post?

Tell me. Have you even bothered to look at any of these before you posted? Do you really think any of it is all that complex? Everything there is made for home users with the exception of Rogue Killer. In particular, OpenDNS and Bluecoat K9 are geared to families with kids and while they can be configured, they work just fine with the defaults. If people can use Facebook, they can use everything I listed.

5thwheeleroldman wrote:
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?

No, you don't need them. Refuse their offer!

Install Malwarebytes and be done with it

Malwarebytes

Campfire Time wrote:
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

Do you really think a user who isn't even sure something is "ScamWare" is going to have the skill set to download and configure any of the programs that you mentioned in your post?

bcsdguy wrote:
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'.

Has Chromebook gone from an internet only machine to a usable device? Does Chromebook no longer rely on internet for its OS? And it's still very usable if you don't have internet access? I've not kept up with Chromebook and don't know.

5thwheeleroldman wrote:
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?

Stopzilla is "Hostage ware".

Those crooks are after your credit card number.

Easy fix with Malwarebytes.

5thwheeleroldman wrote:
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?

What Stopzilla did was to put a bunch of their fake garbage and problems on your computer when you did their "free" scan. Now they want you to pay them to clean up mostly what THEY seeded onto your system...

Follow the advice of others above...free Ccleaner, Malwarebytes, etc.

Save your photos and documents on an external hard drive and reinstall windows.