Quality Content Writers Group
What cost protection?
by Arthur Webster Just plain honesty
Arthur Webster 
Just plain honesty
My old computer has begun showing an "about:blank" page when I close a browser window and this, is, apparently, the result of a hijack bid.
The delay in operating the machine because closing a browser window necessitated also closing the "about:blank" page caused me to search the web for a solution. None of my anti-virus, anti spy-ware. anti-adware or anti-hi-jack programmes prevented the infection and none of them could remove it.
One particular programme was highly recommended to remove this infection so I had a free scan to see if, indeed, it did identify the problem. It did!
It also identified 1,483 other problems!
Talk about being deafened by the ringing of multiple alarm bells and the feeding frenzy of my naturally incredulous mind - I was stunned.
Then I started thinking.
If these guys want me to buy their programme, it stands to reason they would want it to 'find' loads of rubbish in a free scan. Naturally, when I buy the programme, it will remove all the rubbish and my scans would be clear and I would congratulate myself on a wise purchase.
But I have already done that several times!
I decided that it would be interesting to see what other such rogrammes showed after their free scans. It was no surprise to find that the lowest number of identified problems was 892!
So, here is a serious question.
How do I decide how efficient my existing software is?
Do I assume that, because these free scans all tell me I have a massive problem, I have to re-eavaluate all my provisions for protection - or do I decide that the free scans are a load of tosh and are only there as a cynical sales ploy?
This is the sort of dilema that can cost a lot of money, drive you crazy and leave you with insufficient protection!
Apr 21st 2008 05:46
Just plain honestyMy old computer has begun showing an "about:blank" page when I close a browser window and this, is, apparently, the result of a hijack bid.
The delay in operating the machine because closing a browser window necessitated also closing the "about:blank" page caused me to search the web for a solution. None of my anti-virus, anti spy-ware. anti-adware or anti-hi-jack programmes prevented the infection and none of them could remove it.
One particular programme was highly recommended to remove this infection so I had a free scan to see if, indeed, it did identify the problem. It did!
It also identified 1,483 other problems!
Talk about being deafened by the ringing of multiple alarm bells and the feeding frenzy of my naturally incredulous mind - I was stunned.
Then I started thinking.
If these guys want me to buy their programme, it stands to reason they would want it to 'find' loads of rubbish in a free scan. Naturally, when I buy the programme, it will remove all the rubbish and my scans would be clear and I would congratulate myself on a wise purchase.
But I have already done that several times!
I decided that it would be interesting to see what other such rogrammes showed after their free scans. It was no surprise to find that the lowest number of identified problems was 892!
So, here is a serious question.
How do I decide how efficient my existing software is?
Do I assume that, because these free scans all tell me I have a massive problem, I have to re-eavaluate all my provisions for protection - or do I decide that the free scans are a load of tosh and are only there as a cynical sales ploy?
This is the sort of dilema that can cost a lot of money, drive you crazy and leave you with insufficient protection!
Apr 21st 2008 05:46
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Comments
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Arthur Webster
Just plain honestyHi, Anthony, I agree with everything you say BUT there are people who will say exactly the same about whatever anti-virus or anti-anything programme they are using. How do I decide who to trust - my own extensive range of anti-everything programmes or do I have to consider whether these free scans are to be taken seriously or not? That is the dilema. Apr 24th 2008 03:33 |
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Anthony Hosking
 I would stay away from the free scans I actually do not believe I have that many risks on my computer if I was to do a scan with mu anit virus first and then took a free scan I bet it would come up with the same result. To me this would be maybe not a scam but a decitful way of selling there program, these type of thing will always catch the unweary or newcomer. Its simply not worth the worry Apr 24th 2008 17:07 |
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Arthur Webster
Just plain honestyThat's true enough Anthony, but where do I find an anti - anything that does not offer a free scan? As far as I can see, they ALL do - and they ALL return horrendous results. Apr 25th 2008 04:18 |
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Beth Schmillen
 spybot is free.... and find a good registry cleaner, get familiar with what's in your files so you know what to delete... your firewall might have protection feature to keep your page settings... buy I rely on spybot for that one. I set my browser so nothing can be downloaded and do all the delete cookies etc... and have been amazingly lucky so far....? I just looked and spybot isn't showing in my systems tray location! oh no have to go see why! Beth Apr 26th 2008 17:45 |
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Arthur Webster
Just plain honestyHi, Beth, I have a full armoury of protection BUT the point is, if I run one of these free scans of a piece of software I do not have, I can guarantee that it will discover hundreds of problems. This is obviosly a sales ploy (it's called the "if you can't justify your product, scare the client" ploy BUT I do have evidence of a hi-jack attempt and blank:page is a notoriously difficult problem to remove. I would have thought that a programme that could remove it would not need to lie about discovering other problems. Apr 27th 2008 04:37 |
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Jeff Greene
 Online Marketing Specialist/ConsultantA visit over to www.pcmagazine.com will put you to the latest and best stuff without the hassles. Apr 30th 2008 08:06 |
No Not at all, those program are only out to sell you. I my opinion you can not go pass a free antivirus such as AVG, Avast or even antivir, these can all be found on Google. Thye are all free and very good, I use Avast myself and I have never had any trouble at all. Hope this helps my friend. The world is all sell sell sell and eeven when you buy a new one is comes with an anti virus program, but the licsense does run out and you are expected to but it. No way not for my money.
Anthony
Apr 24th 2008 03:05