As an IT guy, I highly recommend this free program

[NJmaverick]

It does a great job of tuning up a windows PC or clean up after an infection

http://www.majorgeeks.com/Advanced_SystemCare_3_d5927.html

The maintain windows and diagnose system functions do a great job. I have been installing it and running it on slow computers and infected computers and it does a bang up job for me.

[HopeHoops]

1. Shouldn't that Vince guy be making this pitch?

[NJmaverick]

2. Well it's free, I doubt Vince does freebies

[Lost in CT]

3. Oh I'm pretty sure that is how Vince got his job. nt

[tanngrisnir3]

4. I have doubts about any program that wants to install Yahoo toolbar...

[trof]

5. I keep getting a java 'upgrade' that wants to do that.

No thanks.

[NJmaverick]

9. Java and all other programs should be kept up to date

[hobbit709]

7. So uncheck the option. That's what I do on any free program.

[NJmaverick]

15. exactly it's the price of free software and it's a common practice

[NJmaverick]

10. I believe when you update Jave, it tries to get you to add the Google tool bar

so I don't really go by that. All you have to do is uncheck the option

[tanngrisnir3]

17. Oh, I know. CC does the same. It's the principle of the matter.

[NJmaverick]

19. I could understand that. It's just becoming so common place though

that it's tough to avoid it.

[DS1]

6. Please remove the pointer about being an IT person

You're giving the rest of us a bad name

[Name removed]

8. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[no name no slogan]

11. This IT guy recommends another solution

get a Mac :woohoo:

[NJmaverick]

12. Do you ever wonder if enough people follow this advice

that hackers would get serious about attacking the Mac operating system?

[no name no slogan]

13. Let 'em at it, and let 'em prove it

There's already plenty of holes in MacOS, and hackers have exploited them. However, MS does a horrible job of patching holes and leaving holes open, which is why it's easier for hackers to exploit.

[NJmaverick]

14. MS does do a pretty poor response job, on many occasions

still it is the number one target of hackers. I wonder how well Mac would do under that sort of situation. Right now they are distant second, in terms of hackers looking for and exploiting programing flaws.

[no name no slogan]

16. I've often wondered that myself

I think by its very nature and origins (based on FreeBSD) it would more secure, and the response to fixes would be faster and better-- especially if they can rely on the *nix and open source communities for contributions (something Apple has tried to cultivate, but not as much as they should, IMHO).

I work on Windows, Mac and even Unix machines on occasion, and I prefer the simplicity and ease of use of Macs overall, after being a PC person since the early 80s, when the first PCs came out (my mother was a "lifer" at IBM).

[NJmaverick]

18. I used to think the same thing about open source.

That is until I started working with open source software like Joomla and SMF. I have seen they can be easily exploited by hackers as well. Joomla is notorious for its security vulnerabilities, and I have had problems with getting hacked. I also have seen that other open source software that have had problems with hacking and vulnerabilities. So I don't think open source provides much in the way of protection. At least I don't think that anymore

[no name no slogan]

20. The software is only as good as the admin, IMHO.

It takes a lot of vigilance to secure a machine completely, and you have to be on top of it 24/7. Open Source can provide more protection, IMHO, because all the vulnerabilities are on display-- with the closed source stuff, you have to discover them. OTOH, who wants to spend all that time maintaining/patching something.

As the saying goes, Linux is free only if your time is worthless.

[NJmaverick]

21. I would have to agree with pretty much everything you say.

Although I would add this- The only minus with open source is that same strength, the code is out there for all to study, including the hackers.

[madinmaryland]

22. Dude! I thought you were an EMT?? BTW, someone who comments about IT

who has a name that is one of the slower speeds around T1 voice grade transmissions leaves a quite a trail of irony!

[NJmaverick]

23. Volunteer EMT, IT is my paid job (although I wear more than one hat these days)

IT was a job switch for me. I orignially had an engineering degree and working in hospital facilities management for many years. Then the hospital industry went to hell in the 90s (thanks to medicare budget cuts and the rise of HMOs). So I went back to school for computers (since maintaining computer systems is not all that different than maintaing hospital systems).

Never thought about the irony issue. Although my current job doesn't involve T1 lines or the telcom industry (although I spent a couple of years in that industry, ironically while it was collapsing under the weight of the plunging long distance prices).

I would also add that I think my EMT career may be coming to a close. I am getting too old for all the night jobs, and then going to work the next day. It's taking longer and longer to over come those 2 hour sleep nights