Virus Removal - How and How Much?

[bvibert]

After reading an article in PC Mag I started using Avast, it's free. Automatically updates. Seems to be working great for about a year, I use Spybot to remove adware.

I've been using Avast for the last few months, along with Spybot. Unfortunately my computer still managed to get majorly f-ed up. I thought it was a virus that Avast missed at first so I went out and bought Norton, which didn't find anything either. Now I'm not really sure what's up...

So basically I don't have anything useful to add to the thread...

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Ah... the age old Mac vs. PC debate.

Well, I'll try to make this brief: Mac OS is not less susceptible to viruses or spyware. Mac OS is not more secure. Mac OS does not perform better. The only reason Macs get fewer viruses and have fewer spyware issues is because virus/spyware coders don't target them, because there are millions more PC users. In the mind of a malicious coder, the more people they can hit, the better. So they naturally gravitate toward the Windows platform.

It's funny, I've had lots of conversations with Mac users that claim that Mac OS doesn't crash, and that Mac's don't suffer from occasional hardware failure. Both are untrue. I've been called upon plenty of times to fix Macs after OS crashes. I've also seen plenty of Mac hardware failure. They are electronic devices like every other electronic device. They are susceptible to the same damage and failure. A quality built Mac is no better than a quality built PC (not worse, either). Oh, and if you really want security from hackers and viruses and spyware, Linux really is the solution (yeah, I'm one of those Linux guys :wink: )

By the way... someone who knows Macs please answer this: is the fact that Macs are bundled with Mac OS the only non-cosmetic differentiating factor between PCs and Macs now? Now that they run on the very same Intel architecture that most PCs are built upon, they use PCIe, PCI, AGP cards, they use the SATA and SATA II architecture, they use IDE optical drives.... what is the hardware difference from PCs? I haven't researched it at all, so maybe someone else can explain why a Mac is 2 or 3 times more expensive than its PC counterpart??????? I don't get it.... :blink:

:flame: MAC


Sorry Greg... I know I shouldn't have brought it back up. It is practically political. Oh well... too late :wink: Feel free to delete my post if you don't like it.

 

[klrskiah]

Just got an ibook for school and it cost me about $1100, plus it came with a 4g ipod nano for free, so it worked out about the same as a comperable pc would have cost wise.

BTW regardless of why macs get less spyware/viruses the fact is still macs dont get the spyware/ viruses!!!!!

 

[wa-loaf]

Sigh, OK:

Ah... the age old Mac vs. PC debate.

Well, I'll try to make this brief: Mac OS is not less susceptible to viruses or spyware. Mac OS is not more secure. Mac OS does not perform better. The only reason Macs get fewer viruses and have fewer spyware issues is because virus/spyware coders don't target them, because there are millions more PC users. In the mind of a malicious coder, the more people they can hit, the better. So they naturally gravitate toward the Windows platform.

True to an extent. Macs having a small market share does keep a lot of hackers uniterested. Windows does however leave a lot more doors open than mac do by default. Oh and what makes Linux so secure? Mac OS and Linux are both unix based and have a small but hardcore set of users, so what's the dif?

It's funny, I've had lots of conversations with Mac users that claim that Mac OS doesn't crash, and that Mac's don't suffer from occasional hardware failure. Both are untrue. I've been called upon plenty of times to fix Macs after OS crashes. I've also seen plenty of Mac hardware failure. They are electronic devices like every other electronic device. They are susceptible to the same damage and failure. A quality built Mac is no better than a quality built PC (not worse, either). Oh, and if you really want security from hackers and viruses and spyware, Linux really is the solution (yeah, I'm one of those Linux guys :wink: )

Yes, the OS crashes and they can have hardware failures. I have two Dells that I use at work both of them with faster processors and more ram than my mac. I'm a graphic designer and use a mac extensively at home. Simply from my observation I have many more crashes hangs and hardware failures with the Dells. If I do have a problem with my mac I can usually figure it out in short order. The Dells often need help from IT to straighten out whatever issue is going on.

By the way... someone who knows Macs please answer this: is the fact that Macs are bundled with Mac OS the only non-cosmetic differentiating factor between PCs and Macs now? Now that they run on the very same Intel architecture that most PCs are built upon, they use PCIe, PCI, AGP cards, they use the SATA and SATA II architecture, they use IDE optical drives.... what is the hardware difference from PCs? I haven't researched it at all, so maybe someone else can explain why a Mac is 2 or 3 times more expensive than its PC counterpart??????? I don't get it.... :blink:

That might have been the case 15 years ago, but it's complete BS now. If you look at base prices the mac might seem a little more expensive, but if you bring the pc inline with the mac specs the price is the same.


:smash:

 

[riverc0il]

The Dells often need help from IT to straighten out whatever issue is going on.

That's because it's a Dell. Dude

Having worked with dozens of Dell Work Stations in my past half dozen years of employment, I have absolutely no faith in that company and would never purchase a Dell PC. I seriously can not believe how many of those suckers we had to pack up in boxes and return to support. You really can not generalize PC issues based on the experience you have had on Dells. Though I will admit, more recent models have been less problem intensive.

Here is the deal: if you are careful and have a properly protected computer, you generally won't get viruses and spyware regardless of which OS you use.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Sigh, OK... one point at a time

True to an extent. Macs having a small market share does keep a lot of hackers uniterested. Windows does however leave a lot more doors open than mac do by default. Oh and what makes Linux so secure? Mac OS and Linux are both unix based and have a small but hardcore set of users, so what's the dif?

The difference is in the packaged software. Linux, being completely free and open source, comes with a plethora of packaged programs and services that firewall/virus protection that you'd pay quite a lot for on another platform. It's security options at OS setup for most distributions is quite impressive in comparison with other platforms. Linux can be run as a perfectly secure network or web server without having to buy any third party software.

Yes, the OS crashes and they can have hardware failures. I have two Dells that I use at work both of them with faster processors and more ram than my mac. I'm a graphic designer and use a mac extensively at home. Simply from my observation I have many more crashes hangs and hardware failures with the Dells. If I do have a problem with my mac I can usually figure it out in short order. The Dells often need help from IT to straighten out whatever issue is going on.

Well, you have to read my post. I said a QUALITY built PC. Dell's have historically had issues. The reason Dell workstations can sell in the sub-$500 price range is because they're often constructed with poor quality generic components. Let me build you a PC with quality components, and then we can do a real comparison.

That might have been the case 15 years ago, but it's complete BS now. If you look at base prices the mac might seem a little more expensive, but if you bring the pc inline with the mac specs the price is the same.


:smash:

Uhhhhh... no. Example #1:

Mac
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
# 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
# 512MB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x256
# Keyboard & Mighty Mouse + Mac OS X - U.S. English
# 160GB Serial ATA hard drive
# Intel GMA 950 graphics with 64MB of shared memory
# 24x Combo Drive (DVD-ROM, CD-RW)
# 17-inch widescreen LCD

$999

__________________________________________________________

PC
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INTEL CORE 2 DUO E6320 1.86GHZ 1066FSB L775 4MB
ASUS P5L-VM 1394 P4 L775 1066FSB 945G i950VGA LAN uATX
CORSAIR DDR2-667 SODIMM 512MB NON-ECC
SEAGATE 160GB SATA2 HDD SATA 7200RPM 8MB
AOPEN COMBO 52X32X52 + 16X DVD, BLACK/BEIGE PANEL
KDS K-72MB 17-IN LCD BLACK w/SPK
MICROSOFT 69N-00014 WIRELESS OPTICAL 3000 USB KB/MOUSE
NSPIRE M-120 uATX CASE BLACK

$673 w/Windows XP Home
-or-
$592 w/No OS/Linux

And example #2:

Mac
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Two 2.0GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon
* 2GB (4 x 512MB)
* 500GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA 3Gb/s
* NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT 256MB (single-link DVI/dual-link DVI)
* Apple Cinema Display (20" flat panel)
* Two 16x SuperDrives
* AirPort Extreme card (Wi-fi)
* Apple Wireless Keyboard and Apple wireless Mighty Mouse - U.S. English
* Mac OS X - U.S. English

$3434


PC
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 x Intel Xeon E5335 Clovertown 2.0GHz Socket 771
TYAN S5372G2NR-LC Dual Socket 771 Intel 5000V SSI CEB Motherboard
4 x Kingston ValueRAM 512MB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667
SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
ASUS 18X DVD±R DVD Burner with 14X DVD-RAM Write and LightScribe Black
PNY VCG7300GXPB GeForce 7300GT 256MB GDDR2 PCI Express x16
GIGABYTE GN-WP01GS PCI Wireless Adapter - Retail
ViewSonic Optiquest Series Q20WB Black 20" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD
Logitech Cordless Desktop
ARK SR-8100BK Black DUAL XEON Ready Server Case
DYNAPOWER USA DP-35P1U Server Power Supply

$1873 w/Windows XP Pro
-or-
$1734 w/No OS/Linux

So fine... it's not quite twice the cost. But dang near.

The PCs I configured were both configured with high-quality name brand components. The Macs were the base configuration with one or two component upgrades.



:smash:

 

[wa-loaf]

Example number 1 is not a fair comparison. You can't compare a build yourself pc with an all-in-one like the imac. The imac is practically a laptop stuck on a monitor stand, it's pretty impressive that they can fit all of that into a monitor for $1000 bucks.

Example 2, build your own is going to beat out any name brand configuration. My assumptions are for your average consumer who goes to Best Buy or what not and gets a computer off the shelf. You pay extra for the convenience and that companies marketing and design. I do have to say that I (and most people who've used macs for a while) don't by Apples extras. They do really stiff you on RAM and the flat panel prices are ridiculus(sp?). I always get the minimum RAM and order the rest from Crucial or another vendor.

I'm not going to convince you to buy/use macs or really want to, and you're not going to convince me to start using linux. :argue:

So lets go back to talking about skiing and how Sugarbush rocks. :flag:

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Example number 1 is not a fair comparison. You can't compare a build yourself pc with an all-in-one like the imac. The imac is practically a laptop stuck on a monitor stand, it's pretty impressive that they can fit all of that into a monitor for $1000 bucks.

Example 2, build your own is going to beat out any name brand configuration. My assumptions are for your average consumer who goes to Best Buy or what not and gets a computer off the shelf. You pay extra for the convenience and that companies marketing and design. I do have to say that I (and most people who've used macs for a while) don't by Apples extras. They do really stiff you on RAM and the flat panel prices are ridiculus(sp?). I always get the minimum RAM and order the rest from Crucial or another vendor.

I'm not going to convince you to buy/use macs or really want to, and you're not going to convince me to start using linux. :argue:

So now I get, "It's not fair " That's okay, because........

So lets go back to talking about skiing and how Sugarbush rocks. :flag:

I agree. The Bush is the best, and skiing is what really matters, not what platform your computer is

 

[wa-loaf]

The Bush is the best, and skiing is what really matters, not what platform your computer is

Hey now, I didn't say the Bush was the best... :razz:

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Hey now, I didn't say the Bush was the best... :razz:

No, sir. I did. And everyone's entitled to my opinion :wink:

 

[ckofer]

That should do it.

 

[BushMogulMaster]

That's my lazy 30-second photoshop answer!

 

[BushMogulMaster]

That should settle it! :wink:

 

[wa-loaf]

That should settle it! :wink:

what is that logo? It look vaguely communist . . .:wink:

 

[wa-loaf]

Ok, so I google quickly for something anti-linux to post, but then I found this:

(warning NSFW, that's why it's a only link)
http://www.sarda.es/fotos/linux-o-windows/linux.jpg

and well, how can you argue with that? :-o

 

[BushMogulMaster]

Ok, so I google quickly for something anti-linux to post, but then I found this:

(warning NSFW, that's why it's a only link)
http://www.sarda.es/fotos/linux-o-windows/linux.jpg

and well, how can you argue with that? :-o

You see... Linux really is the best

 

[Warp Daddy]

I rely both on Zonealarm and the free home version of Avast for anti-virus --it updates automatically and is quite good

 

[hammer]

I use AVG free. It works, and it's free. And don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I spent a few years as a network/systems administrator, and I've tested just about every anti-virus software program on the market, and AVG is more than acceptable and reliable for home use. It also isn't a system resource hog like many of the others, particularly Norton.

So, I installed AVG and uninstalled Norton...had a problem with a blue screen of death during the uninstall but it looks like it's working now.

First thing I heard from my spouse was "applications run a lot faster now"...

 

[skiNEwhere]

I would give my .02 but I have a Mac and don't have that problem

But yea, what he said, lay off the porn lol

 

[BushMogulMaster]

So, I installed AVG and uninstalled Norton...had a problem with a blue screen of death during the uninstall but it looks like it's working now.

First thing I heard from my spouse was "applications run a lot faster now"...

That seems to be the general consensus when people switch from Norton or McAfee. They're just resource hogs, plain and simple. They often create more problems than they solve. And the more "advanced" they get, the worse it becomes.

The problem is, most people blame slow performance on everything but Norton, et. al.

Oh well...