Thin skinned about computing? An expert in computing? Then don't read this post.

Sometimes things have to be repeated. Like, install antivirus software, update it every few days and scan your computer. Find a good anti-spyware program and run it. Update it every few days too. If you are using Weatherbug, Precision Time, anything Gator, Gain, GMT or Claria then doom on you. ALL of your internet surfing is being watched and reported to nefarious entities that will use this information for no good. Yesterday a computer that was barely a month old showed up with every piece of that Gator barnyard material installed on it. It also had multiple virus infections including a few trojans. My money says that on the initial run of SpyBot all kind of nasties will be found residing on this computer including Doubleclick, Adclick, Gator, Gain, GMT, Claria, keyloggers (yes I said keyloggers- they can be remotely installed) and other adware/spyware. Adults should know better.

Folks, this is not rocket science. There is a wonderful website called GOOGLE. If you decide to download something please go and type in the name of that program into the search box on GOOGLE. Or use Yahoo or Excite or Lycos or even MSN! Read about your chosen download and make sure it is not some horrible tool of Satan like that damned Weatherbug or Precision Time! If you have these programs I absolutely guarantee that your every movement on the world wide web is being tracked and reported to various spammers, telemarketers and other village idiots. If you enjoy these clowns bugging the hell out of you then just keep running the stuff! I am sick and tired of trying to help folks that won't put forth the effort to protect their computing environment. Why don't you just walk in front of a cyberbus? Quicker and less cyberpainful. Or go buy an Apple. That's what you really deserve.

I have used AVG antivirus software for several years and it has done a wonderful job! Guess what? It's free! Just click on the link and go download the free version. If you insist in paying for software then Norton's/Symantec is very good. There's also Sophos, Panda and many others. If you are running McAfees, well, remember that cyberbus mentioned earlier? My system scans promptly at 6:00PM every day after checking for an UPDATE. When first online I usually manually check for an UPDATE. If you don't UPDATE your virus definitions then you are wasting hard drive space with the antivirus software. Not only do new infections show up but regenerated versions of old virus/trojan malware constantly resurface. UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE. If I ever become ruler of the known universe all virus writers will be hurled into raging volcanoes. K, this will not likely happen so get with it and protect your system.


SPYBOT (Search and Destroy) is a very good spyware/adware remover as is AD-AWARE. Please read the tutorial on any utility that you download and do not whine to me if you screw something up. You did it. And don't blame the programs or the computer. If you can't download AVG, Spybot, Adaware and install it properly please reconsider you personal confuser of choice and regress to an Apple or pen and paper. There are wonderful instructions on all these sites and if you are reading this then you can comprehend what they have to say.

I know this is harsh and feelings may be hurt. This rant is meant to help make computing easier. It also helps me vent. When you don't protect yourself, come in blaming the computer because YOU downloaded some awful junk then there is 'no quarter'. Remember, these are machines. If you have Gator or some such malarky on your machine YOU put it there. It didn't just show up in the air and land on your machine. All words in this post that are in bold type are links that will take you directly to the site. Just hover your pointer over the word and click on it. Nuff said. I'm outta here for a while.

"It is better to know some of the questions than all of the answers."
-James Thurber