I could scream.

[conuly]

My mouse has recently started occasionally working funny when I'm using firefox on my laptop - it runs slowly. I don't know why, but it occured to me that I might want to run a virus scan, it's been a while since I've done that. And as I'm running this virus scan (I'm clean), it occurs to me that I might also want to update my virus protection, since for some reason the automatic updates haven't been working right.

Apparently, McAffree only works in IE. First thing I wonder is "holy crap, does this mean I've been wandering around sans virus protection this whole time???"

But I go, start IE, try to update my virus protection.

No. I can't do that. Because EVERY time I click the button, it opens in a new window. In, of course, my default browser, which is Firefox. And I can't figure out how to temporarily make it NOT my default browser.

Not that I especially care, because if they're too stupid to make their program compatible with more than one browser, I'm not sure I trust them on ANYthing.

But now I need to get a new virus shield. Help?

(Note, spyware/adware detection programs are also useful)

Oh, and on the mouse thing, advice? It's the mouse, not the mousethingy that's attatched to the laptop. I don't want to have to get a new mouse...

Comments

[narfer.livejournal.com]

http://www.kaspersky.com/

i love the stuff. free trial too. like, not crippled bullshit trial either.

[ruthanolis.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you need to a cat to "motivate" your mouse? 0.o

[joeymew.livejournal.com]

I use Norton Antivirus, but I think you have to pay for it and stuff. It works quite well. It catches viruses that get emailed before they every get in.

Ad-aware is what I use for spyware, I'm pretty sure it's free.

[rachelkachel]

Well, to change IE to default, go to Internet Options, check the box that says IE should check to see if it's the default browser, and start it up.

[conuly]

Tried that, didn't work.

[rachelkachel]

Odd.

[push-the-limits.livejournal.com]

If you have XP with Service Pack 1, there's an option under the Control Panel and Add/Remove Programs on the left hand side, that's "Set Program Access and Defaults." From there, you can change your default to IE, make your updates, and when you're done, go change it back.

If you don't have XP with SP1, I don't know what to tell ya.

[push-the-limits.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah...I know nothing of free anti virus programs (totally free, I mean), but I can link you to AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy. They're for spyware, and both totally free.

AdAware (http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button)

Spybot S&D (http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22262,00.asp)

[malantha.livejournal.com]

For virus protection, I've heard good things about AVG (http://www.grisoft.com) but I don't really know much about it. I usually just use Trend Micro's online scanner once in a while.

I second the mentions of Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D for spyware. I use both of them as well.. Spybot seems to be more thorough, but Ad-Aware is updated more frequently. It's kind of annoying, but..oh well, I guess.

And it's McAfee, not McAffree. :)

[push-the-limits.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I use both because one always seems to catch things the other doesn't.

[snale.livejournal.com]

Is it ONLY slow in Firefox?
This is the most stupid obvious question, but that's always the one I miss, so...
You could just try cleaning out your mouse and see what happens.
Of course, if it's an optical mouse, forget it. But if it's the kind with the ball, then go for it.
Or if it's fine except for Firefox, then forget I said anything.

[stejcruetekie.livejournal.com]

I use Nod32 (http://www.nod32.com) for my anti-virus. It's much smaller and faster than any of the other popular AV programs, the performance loss on your machine is practically unnoticable (ever notice how much Mcafee or Norton slow down the computer?). And I personally have seen it find a virus no other company was able to - and it was a bitch of a virus too.

[rainbow-goddess.livejournal.com]

I use McAfee in Netscape, but it does cost money to get the upgrades. There's an antivirus program called F-Prot that you can get for a free trial, long enough to get rid of any existing viruses. I don't think I have the URL handy, but you could Google for it. You can get a DOS version for free, but I don't know how well that would work with the newer versions of Windoze.

[conuly]

When I'm on the computer, and using my mouse, I'm on the internet (using firefox). And yes, is an optical.

[the-lady-aurora.livejournal.com]

I always used AVG. Then someone recommended avast! (http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html). On the very fist scan it found 5 Trojans - this is despite me having AVG and Spybot.

Definitely recommend it. It talks to you too...lol It has an auto update for the virus database and it tells you when it's updated.

[snale.livejournal.com]

Have you tried just switching it out with another mouse? It's a longshot, but...

[conuly]

Don't have another mouse. That's why I don't want to change it.

[snale.livejournal.com]

Aw, nuts.

[push-the-limits.livejournal.com]

I downloaded that, and it's running on my computer right now. I had it run on start-up, and so far it's found 3 trojans.

Sheesh.

I have NIS, Adaware, Spybot, and TrojanRemover, and none of them found these. I'm about to put it on my son's computer right now. :)

[the-lady-aurora.livejournal.com]

My brother used to swear by Norton and the other by McAfee. They both installed avast! and said it picked up stuff that the others didn't. As far as I'm concerned, it's wonderful and best of all FREE!

[narfer.livejournal.com]

http://www.kaspersky.com/

i love the stuff. free trial too. like, not crippled bullshit trial either.

[ruthanolis.livejournal.com]

Perhaps you need to a cat to "motivate" your mouse? 0.o

[joeymew.livejournal.com]

I use Norton Antivirus, but I think you have to pay for it and stuff. It works quite well. It catches viruses that get emailed before they every get in.

Ad-aware is what I use for spyware, I'm pretty sure it's free.

[rachelkachel]

Well, to change IE to default, go to Internet Options, check the box that says IE should check to see if it's the default browser, and start it up.

[conuly]

Tried that, didn't work.

[rachelkachel]

Odd.

[push-the-limits.livejournal.com]

If you have XP with Service Pack 1, there's an option under the Control Panel and Add/Remove Programs on the left hand side, that's "Set Program Access and Defaults." From there, you can change your default to IE, make your updates, and when you're done, go change it back.

If you don't have XP with SP1, I don't know what to tell ya.

[push-the-limits.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah...I know nothing of free anti virus programs (totally free, I mean), but I can link you to AdAware and Spybot Search & Destroy. They're for spyware, and both totally free.

AdAware (http://www.download.com/3000-2144-10045910.html?part=69274&subj=dlpage&tag=button)

Spybot S&D (http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22262,00.asp)

[malantha.livejournal.com]

For virus protection, I've heard good things about AVG (http://www.grisoft.com) but I don't really know much about it. I usually just use Trend Micro's online scanner once in a while.

I second the mentions of Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D for spyware. I use both of them as well.. Spybot seems to be more thorough, but Ad-Aware is updated more frequently. It's kind of annoying, but..oh well, I guess.

And it's McAfee, not McAffree. :)

[push-the-limits.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I use both because one always seems to catch things the other doesn't.

[snale.livejournal.com]

Is it ONLY slow in Firefox?
This is the most stupid obvious question, but that's always the one I miss, so...
You could just try cleaning out your mouse and see what happens.
Of course, if it's an optical mouse, forget it. But if it's the kind with the ball, then go for it.
Or if it's fine except for Firefox, then forget I said anything.

[stejcruetekie.livejournal.com]

I use Nod32 (http://www.nod32.com) for my anti-virus. It's much smaller and faster than any of the other popular AV programs, the performance loss on your machine is practically unnoticable (ever notice how much Mcafee or Norton slow down the computer?). And I personally have seen it find a virus no other company was able to - and it was a bitch of a virus too.

[rainbow-goddess.livejournal.com]

I use McAfee in Netscape, but it does cost money to get the upgrades. There's an antivirus program called F-Prot that you can get for a free trial, long enough to get rid of any existing viruses. I don't think I have the URL handy, but you could Google for it. You can get a DOS version for free, but I don't know how well that would work with the newer versions of Windoze.

[conuly]

When I'm on the computer, and using my mouse, I'm on the internet (using firefox). And yes, is an optical.

[the-lady-aurora.livejournal.com]

I always used AVG. Then someone recommended avast! (http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html). On the very fist scan it found 5 Trojans - this is despite me having AVG and Spybot.

Definitely recommend it. It talks to you too...lol It has an auto update for the virus database and it tells you when it's updated.

[snale.livejournal.com]

Have you tried just switching it out with another mouse? It's a longshot, but...

[conuly]

Don't have another mouse. That's why I don't want to change it.

[snale.livejournal.com]

Aw, nuts.

[push-the-limits.livejournal.com]

I downloaded that, and it's running on my computer right now. I had it run on start-up, and so far it's found 3 trojans.

Sheesh.

I have NIS, Adaware, Spybot, and TrojanRemover, and none of them found these. I'm about to put it on my son's computer right now. :)

[the-lady-aurora.livejournal.com]

My brother used to swear by Norton and the other by McAfee. They both installed avast! and said it picked up stuff that the others didn't. As far as I'm concerned, it's wonderful and best of all FREE!