Hatrack River Forum: Best Browser? Spyware help?

This is topic Best Browser? Spyware help? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=024230

Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :

IE is *infuriating*. It's so easy to infect the thing!

I'm on my dad's PC at home and in less than three weeks spyware has managed to decimate it!

I don't understand WHY. He has Norton Anti-Virus and Personal Firewall. He doesn't visit nasty sites. He uses it for taxes and basic surfing - Orbitz, etc.

What's the best way to beat the spyware? I have SpyBot, AdAware, and another program that helps control ActiveX (I'll find the name in a second). What else can I do to beat existing spyware and prevent more?

Also, this thing is an eMachines ( [Grumble]

), and the homepage in IE is permanently set to http://www.emachines.com. It won't let me change it. How can I fix it?

Also, what's an alternative browser I could download?

Edit: I miss my Mac [Frown]

[ May 11, 2004, 05:18 PM: Message edited by: Kasie H ]

Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :

Mozilla, I think.

Opera's another browser.

Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :

[Mad]

I tried to go into the "Add/Remove Windows Components" part of the Add/Remove Programs dialogue in the Control Panel, and I got this:

quote:
Could not access the file msmqocm.inf

Error code 0x2 at line 2011777033

Help!

Posted by Snarky (Member # 4406) on :

I'd venture to say that the sole source of your problems is the fact that it's an eMachine. They come preinstalled with several spyware programs. I'd suggest backing up all important files, formatting the hard drive, and reinstalling Windows (but not from the restore CD that came with the computer).

To fix the homepage, go to Start > Run and type in "regedit." Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Internet Explorer > Main. On the right you should see an entry titled "Start Page." Right-click on it, select Modify, and change the value data. This should keep it from changing back to www.emachines.com.

Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :

Snarky,

So I'd need a fresh copy of XP, right?

Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :

Yes, you would need a fresh copy of XP (or some other operting system).

I'd recommend using Mozilla's FireFox for all your browsing needs.

Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :

*sigh*

I was hoping there'd be a less expensive way to fix it.

Posted by Snarky (Member # 4406) on :

That's the only problem, Kasie.

Here's a question for the geeks who know more about licensing: If you buy a computer that comes preinstalled with Windows XP but has no install CD, is it legal to borrow a disc from someone else to reinstall Windows XP?

Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :

Sadly, I don't think it is. Such machines generally are SPECIFICALLY installed under an OEM-only license. That said, it's a grey-enough area that I don't think you'd have any legal OR ethical problems if you did it.

Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :

I think putting spyware in the computer without telling people about it is unethical. [Grumble]

Now, to find someone with a copy of XP...

Posted by Snarky (Member # 4406) on :

quote:
That said, it's a grey-enough area that I don't think you'd have any legal OR ethical problems if you did it.

Oh, I certainly didn't. When I still had my eMachines, I used my roommate's Windows 98 disc. I eventually got around to buying my own copy of XP, though.

Posted by Lime (Member # 1707) on :

I second the vote for Firefox. It's easily the best browser that I've ever used, and also conforms to W3 standards, unlike IE.

That and I love tabbrowsing.

As far as spyware goes, I like to use Ad-Aware. It's free and clears out a lot of stuff. I don't have any experience with eMachines, so I can't really tell you what to do there. But if someone suggests a fresh install of Windows, then that's probably the best bet.

Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :

Thanks for the tip on Ad-Aware. It's much better than Spybot Search and Destroy.

http://download.com.com/3000-2094-10045910.html?legacy=cnet

Posted by kinglear (Member # 6211) on :

I third the vote for FireFox (http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/)

As to spyware I say use Adaware and AVG's free vuris scanner as it picks up a bunch of spyware stuff as well.

Posted by BYuCnslr (Member # 1857) on :

for people who use Mozilla and FireBunny or whatever they've gotten around to calling it now, I have compiled a set of smart bookmarks for awesome web browsing. For those of you who don't know what smart bookmarks are I've explained what smart bookmarks are in that post.
Satyagraha

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

I'll pitch in with another vote for Mozilla Firefox. It is my favorite browser, by far.

Posted by DSH (Member # 741) on :

Isn't somebody gonna put in a plug for Opera?

No?

How about if I just offer a convenient link instead. I don't know how it compares to Mozilla but it sure beats IE. (that's all the recommendation I ever needed)

Posted by HollowEarth (Member # 2586) on :

you're in college aren't you? check with your school they might give windows to you.

edit: your and you're

[ May 12, 2004, 01:12 AM: Message edited by: HollowEarth ]

Posted by Troubadour (Member # 83) on :

Definitely Moz - I use Firebird and Thunderbird for my email.

Posted by kaioshin00 (Member # 3740) on :

And all this time I thought Microsoft products were the best [Confused]