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As I've aged, it's become more clear that without a lot of money, one will rapidly fall way, way behind. Priorities mean I won't be able to be part of...
Comment by RandiO on [RECOMMENDED] 10 Free Software Programs (January 10, 2025 04:32 AM)
foobar2000 is an advanced freeware audio player. ...
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Happy New Year to you too with good health. MK7...
Comment by Dave on [RECOMMENDED] 10 Free Software Programs (January 9, 2025 12:19 AM)
Use Windows 10/11 built in Recover tool and just reset the new PC to Windows 10/11 minus all the grayware/crapware. After installing most of these fre...
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I got MalwareBytes Pro way back when they were still pretty new, but it is the gold standard for both antivirus and malware, their free extension work...
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I also use Edge along with AOL and everything works great for me....
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I know everyone has their favorite browsers and I get it. I use Edge and for me I think its much faster than Chrome...
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advanced windows care is bloated crapware that can literally destroy your machine with its add-on crap that it tries to get you to install. it may giv...
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Thanks and love for this list and years and years of your help. With your recommendation, I bought PC Matic and soon upgraded to a lifetime subscripti...
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My wife uses Chrome on an older HP box to use Facebook. She frequently complains her computer is slow, running Win10 with 6 GB of RAM. She usually l...
Viruses Articles
Can You Get a Virus By Opening an Email?
A concerned AskBob reader wants to know... “Is it possible to get a computer virus by simply opening an email?” It's true that email has been and remains one of the most popular attack vectors for hackers, spammers, scammers, phishers and other cyber-miscreants that are jiggling the latches on the door of your inbox. But is it really that easy to slip in, and wreak havoc on your computer? Let's find out...
...Malware and Spam: Why Do They Exist?
Philosophers have pondered the nature of evil for ages. Perhaps you also have wondered how a medium meant for information sharing has become a minefield of privacy and security risks. Spam, viruses, ransomware, identity theft, data breaches, phishing, malicious links and other cybercrimes have become commonplace. Who does this stuff, and what the heck is wrong with them? Let's take a look at what motivates the miscreants who menace millions on the Internet...
...Is Your Flash Drive Infected?
Security research firm Sophos found malware on two-thirds of fifty USB flash drives that had been lost aboard Australian trains. That might suggest that you should avoid computing on Australian trains, but the broader lesson is that USB flash drives are highly vulnerable to malware infections. Here's what you need to know, and how to protect your computer from viruses that may lurk on flash drives...
...Where Do Viruses And Spyware Come From?
Several thousand new viruses and spyware programs are detected every day by security analysts. Have you ever wondered who creates these plagues, and why?
...Virus Alert - XP Total Security 2011
Somehow I got a virus called XP Total Security, and I can't get rid of it. It blocks my security software, and it won't let me download any new anti-virus tools. It's even asking me for money... how do I get rid of this thing?
...Should You Call The Geek Squad?
My computer is running really slow, and I think it might have a virus. There's also a ticking sound inside the computer. I'm not very technical, so I'm thinking about calling the Geek Squad. Do you think that's a good idea?
...How Does a Virus Spread?
I love your site and your Tourbus Newsletter! I would like to know how a virus propagates over a network? If you get a virus on one computer - do other users on the network have to do anything to get infected? Is there a good way to protect against this?
...Free Virus Scan
My computer has been acting strangely... at times it's very slow and I'm getting lots of popups. I'm afraid I have a virus, and the anti-virus software that came with my computer has expired. Can you recommend a good (and preferably free) virus scanner?
...How can I avoid computer viruses?
When I wrote in a previous article that You CANNOT get a virus just by opening or reading your email I fully expected it would unleash a torrent of emails in response. I knew this would happen, because Ask Bob Rankin readers are generally smarter and better-looking than the rest of the online population. Read on for Virus Prevention 102 -- even more information on virus prevention and the merits of anti-virus software.
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