The Disposable PC Society (Or Not)
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NYT is running a misleading (to put it mildly) article titled “Corrupted PC’s Find New Home In the Dumpster” which basically advocates throwing out your old PC and getting a new one if you get infected by worms or viruses.
The story mentions a chump with a “Computer Science PHD” who, upon realizing that his comp was infested with worms trojans and other creepy crawlies, sent his machine packing and bought a “400 US$ Dell”. 
This induces frowns on so many levels, I don’t have enough time to make a counterpoint. How much did Dell or HP pay to get this story in the door? If you see that 400$ Dell will ya let me know, thanks.
Windows users, once and for all, get yourself these utilities and live happily everafter:
- Browse happy with Opera or Firefox. Most worms are a gift of the sorely outdated Internet Explorer. Stop using it pronto.
- Get the free AVG anti-virus. Set it up for auto-updates.
- Get the free Zonealarm firewall. Set it up for auto-update.
- Spend the 30 bucks on Webroots SpySweeper. It’s worth every last cent. Yes, I have tried Ad-Aware, Spy Doctor, and a handful of others. Nothing beats Webroots.
- If you use email software, set it up to display text-only. If someone sends you HTML email, Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora etc provide you options to selectively view the HTML if you trust the sender.
It’s about time Joe and Jane stopped thinking a PC is like a blender, it doesn’t just sit there and do stuff. You need regular maintenance. Buying a new machine won’t cut it, much like any other machine. It takes much less time to maintain a PC than to buy a new one altogether. One would hope NYT would realize *at least* that much before allowing this punter journalist to step on his soapbox. 
(360 Words | )
- Strip HTML email in Outlook into plain text
- Managing Contacts with the p2p Plaxo in Outlook Address Book
- 80-20 Retriever, Isys:Email.Search and Lookout: Searching through Microsoft Outlook and Other Email Clients
- Microsoft Antispyware Beta
- Microsoft's new IRM, and how to deal with it in Outlook
Its ok to use IE but I suggest Maxthon[1] or Slim Browser[2] as they allow sensible disabling of ActiveX, Flash, etc , and for what it is worth, for all its flaws, get the Windows SP 2[3]
[1] http://maxthon.com
[2] http://www.flashpeak.com/sbrowser/
[3] http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx
I know for the novice pc user that hiring a technician when you become infected with a worm or virus may be a little costly, but c’mon do you really want to replace a pc everytime you get infected in todays world? Especially if you have actually taken some pride in your setup and do not own a bottom of the line Dell. The advice just does not make any sense. Reload if worst comes to worst. I suggest the following programs, some of which are free.
Spyware Guard
Spyware Blaster
MRU Blaster
Windows Washer
SpySweeper
Zone Alarm
AVG
Ad-Aware SE
Root Kit Revealer
Process Explorer
Thunderbird (e-mail client)
Firefox
Makes perfect sense to me. If my TV loses a channel I throw it and get a new one, what’s the point of retuning? Rust, scratch or dent on my car means I need a new car. I don’t pay for repairs like some mugs; I go out and get a new car and dump my old one on some waste ground, its worthless. Leaky pipes and heating starts playing up at home, I leave! Just move house that instant. I don’t even lock the door on my way out, the house is ruined.
my oldest girl & her husben where going to junk there pc and get a new one . i told them i would look at it. i run
Spybot - Search & Destroy = 647 spyware
Ad-Aware SE = 1468 Ad-Aware
mcafee anti-virus = 46 viruses
p.s.
she let antivirus and other protection expire !
saved the pc running great added dvd-r
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Admin said:
if my blender is anything to go by, blenders need maintainance too
nice utilities you mention there. will check out webroots, i’ve been satisfied with spybot search and destroy.