Protective Software

External Since: Oct 15, 2004 Posts: 67

Ron, thank you for the detailed explanation and suggestions. To tell you the
truth, I never paid
attention to what is in the Registry in the way of Starting Programs, since
I would not have taken any chances of doing anything with any entries for
fear of damaging anything. The Starting Programs shown by the msconfig was
all that I have been interested in. Some time back, I did run one registry
cleaner application, but ran into some problems and soon after I reverted to
a backed up copy of the registry.
Again, thank you for your patience and time!
****
"Ron Badour" wrote:

> OK, so that all my thoughts are collocated:
>
> I think AVG and your firewall are OK. I have installed AVG on a few
> computers and it works OK. I've heard favorable comments about your
> firewall but have not personally used it (I have Zone Alarm on mine).
>
> AdAware or Spybot (or both) are essential in the spyware war. CWShredder
> only works on a very few "hard to get
> rid of" spyware programs. HiJackThis is a diagnostic program that is used
> when you cannot figure out exactly what type of spyware program might be
> running on your PC. It provides a list that a security specialist can
> review when providing you help. Belarc Advisor is not protective
> software--it provides a list of your hardware and software.
>
> I do not believe any registry cleaner is safe to use except by the most
> expert users and then they should be used when a specific problem is trying
> to be solved. Alan Edwards and I know quite a bit about the W98 registry
> and we could not figure out why reg cleaners would pull out certain data.
> It was simply too much work to scan the undo files and replace questionable
> items so we quit using reg cleaners. No adverse effects were noted by
> either of us after we quit using cleaners.
>
> I have looked at a myriad of Tweak programs and some are dangerous and some
> are flat wrong in their suggested tweaks. Tweaks by themselves do not give
> a significant increase in speed. You have to be careful if you use them.
>
> Regarding Win.ini: Run= with followed by a blank means nothing is being
> started from this start up point. The Norun= entry means that the program
> that follows it was being started at boot but that it was changed so that it
> did not start at boot. As to what you found that you don't
> understand--google.exe is your best tool:. For example:
>
> TBload.exe: The file TBLOAD.EXE is used to manage the function of running
> the appropriate
> runtime with a given ToolBook/Multimedia ToolBook application. This allows a
> system to run applications created with different versions of ToolBook
> without
> conflict.
>
> To make TBLOAD.EXE work, the TBK file association in the WIN.INI must be set
> to
> this file, and entries for the various versions of ToolBook need to be
> stated
> in the [ToolBook Load Information] section of the ASYM.INI file. TBLOAD.EXE
> only works with ASYM.INI. If you do not have the entries in ASYM.INI, then
> it
> does not work. The ASYM.INI file can typically be found in the windows
> directory of a system where the authoring version of TBK/MTBK 3.0 is
> installed.
>
> Here is an example TBK association from a WIN.INI file:
>
> TBK=D:\MTB30\TBLOAD.EXE ^.TBK
> *****************
>
> Regarding your search of the registry--forget about that. Run msconfig.exe,
> start up tab and look at the programs that are being started there. If you
> don't know what they are, use google search.
>
> --
> Regards
>
>
> Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
> Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
> Knowledge Base Info:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo
>
>
>
> "BAP" <BAP.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:1DF10F85-DCDC-4706-B82A-00EB78FF6528@microsoft.com...
> > Ron, I searched WIN.INI for run entries and found only 3 references to it:
> > Run=
> > NORUN = C:\QBWIN\SHOWADV.EXE
> > TBK=C:\WINDOWS\asym\runtime\TBLOAD.EXE^.TBK
> >
> > In msconfig, this is what is checked:
> > AOL Fast Start-System Tray-Scan Registry-Tweak UI-AVG7_CC-AVG7_EMC-AOL Top
> > Speed Monitor-PersFw and AolAcsDaemon1
> >
> > I used RegSeeker to search the Registry for references to "Run" and the
> > number came to 461 entries. They were in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT,
> > HKEY_CURRENT_USER,
> > HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHILE.
> > To say the least, that number of entries is overwhelming and I would not
> > know what any of them really mean or what to do with of them. Isn't there
> > a
> > way to set up some log file that would list what is happening during
> > startup
> > or when you right/click or left/click the mouse on the initial attempt
> > during
> > a session?
> >
> > This is sort of getting away from the original post regarding protection.
> > My original intent was to see if amongst all the FREE software utilities,
> > that I had downloaded, there might been those that I could get rid of
> > because
> > of being dangerous or not able to do what they were meant to do.
> > For the moment, I assume that AVG and Kerio Firewall are good to have.
> > Thank you for your time.
> > *****
> >
> > "Ron Badour" wrote:
> >
> >> I did not comment on the firewall or AVG because you appeared to be
> >> running
> >> them and were happy with them. Both products are OK.
> >>
> >> There is really nothing wrong with a registry that is 11 mb other than
> >> some
> >> people reported that the scanreg /fix option quit working when the
> >> registry
> >> approached 9 mb. When I used W98 as my primary system, my registry was
> >> around 10 mb and the option worked for me.
> >>
> >> If you want to speed up your computer noticeably, you probably will have
> >> to
> >> upgrade hardware as system tweaks simply do not do much. As far as
> >> speeding
> >> it up after boot, look at what programs are being started at boot and if
> >> you
> >> do not use a program during 95% of your computing sessions, then don't
> >> start
> >> it at boot. To cut back on the number of programs starting at boot,
> >> check
> >> the programs themselves for an option not to load. You might have to
> >> double
> >> click an icon in the tray (others might require a right click) and then
> >> look
> >> for preferences or options. If you cannot find an option, look for the
> >> program in one of the following start up points and remove the reference
> >> to
> >> it:
> >>
> >> Start up folder on the start menu, the load= and run= lines in the
> >> win.ini
> >> and these registry run keys (use regedit.exe):
> >>
> >> 1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
> >> 2. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
> >> 3. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
> >> 4. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
> >> 5.
> >> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServices
> >> 6.
> >> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunServicesOnce
> >> 7.
> >> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce\Setup
> >>
> >> There is a freeware program that makes this process a lot easier to
> >> manage: Startup Manager, http://home.ptd.net/~don5408/toolbox/startupcpl/
> >>
> >> You can use msconfig.exe, startup tab, to disable programs; however, by
> >> doing so, you may lessen its value as a troubleshooting tool. There
> >> might
> >> be some double entries in msconfig--leave those for your AntiVirus
> >> program
> >> and load power profile alone as they are required.
> >>
> >> If you disable an entry in msconfig or remove it from the start up point
> >> and
> >> the program loads again after a reboot, that is an indication that you
> >> missed an option on the program itself. If you don't know what an entry
> >> is,
> >> check here:
> >> http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_index.htm
> >>
> >> --
> >> Regards
> >>
> >>
> >> Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
> >> Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
> >> Knowledge Base Info:
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> "BAP" <BAP.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:9CBCEE3F-08A3-4E8A-8281-6A5E0E4CE052@microsoft.com...
> >> >
> >> > Thanks, Ron! I certainly agree about the various applications that
> >> > might
> >> > change the Registry
> >> > contents. The only bothering thought is my Registry size at over 11MB,
> >> > 1.51
> >> > fir User.dat and
> >> > 9.77MB for System.dat. Somewhere I read that it should be about 8MB or
> >> > less.
> >> > My OS is
> >> > W98SE. In reality, that is no big deal to me.
> >> > I see that you do not comment on Kerio PW or AVG.
> >> > Regarding the "tune up" software, my tendency is to look for anything
> >> > that
> >> > might successfully get
> >> > my system to speed up. When the my Computer is powered up and ready to
> >> > go,
> >> > it will initially
> >> > take several seconds before it responds to the L/Ck, and, especially,
> >> > the
> >> > R/Ck of the mouse.
> >> > But, that's another subject.
> >> > **********
> >> >
> >> > "Ron Badour" wrote:
> >> >
> >> >> You need to pick one of the spyware programs and regularly run it
> >> >> (after
> >> >> updating the definitions). Spybot or AdAware would be my choice or
> >> >> you
> >> >> could run both if desired. CWShredder only works on a very few "hard
> >> >> to
> >> >> get
> >> >> rid of" spyware programs. HiJackThis is a diagnostic program that is
> >> >> used
> >> >> when you cannot figure out exactly what type of spyware program might
> >> >> be
> >> >> running on your PC. It provides a list that a security specialist can
> >> >> review when providing you help. Belarc Advisor is not protective
> >> >> software--it provides a list of your hardware and software. I would
> >> >> not
> >> >> run
> >> >> a registry cleaner nor any other "tune up" software as they sometimes
> >> >> cause
> >> >> more harm than good.
> >> >> --
> >> >> Regards
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
> >> >> Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
> >> >> Knowledge Base Info:
> >> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> "BAP" <BAP.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> >> news:43F7B937-9FCA-4219-B23C-0027E4BBAB64@microsoft.com...
> >> >> > Posts in this Group and PCWorld articles, often, seem to encourage
> >> >> > to
> >> >> > download software and use it to safeguard against viruses or
> >> >> > intruders.
> >> >> > I
> >> >> > have downloaded several FREE versions of programs to see what they
> >> >> > can
> >> >> > do
> >> >> > for
> >> >> > my setup. However, I have no idea of how some of these may actually
> >> >> > work
> >> >> > or
> >> >> > what should be running, whenever the computer is being powered up or
> >> >> > when
> >> >> > the
> >> >> > Internet is accessed. The only ones that I have presently running
> >> >> > are
> >> >> > Kerio
> >> >> > Personal Firewall and AVG Free Edition. Not knowing how good these
> >> >> > may
> >> >> > be,
> >> >> > I
> >> >> > have also several that are inactive or, perhaps, run at times
> >> >> > without
> >> >> > actually taking any action about the findings. These are:
> >> >> > HijackThis, CWShedder, No Adware, Lavasoft Ad-Aware, XoftSpy,
> >> >> > SpywareBlaster, MRU-Blaster, SE Personal, Cprocess,
> >> >> > Spybot-Search&Destroy,
> >> >> > PCBugDoctor, RegistryFix, RegCure,
> >> >> > EasyCleaner, Registry Mechanic, RegSeeker, RunPCMightyMax,
> >> >> > PCDocPro3.5
> >> >> > and
> >> >> > Belarc Advisor
> >> >> > Would anyone care to advise me as to which may be of value, how it
> >> >> > should
> >> >> > be used, which of the ones listed should be avoided and the good
> >> >> > ones
> >> >> > that
> >> >> > may be missing?
> >> >> > Thank you!
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

External Since: Oct 15, 2004 Posts: 67

Gary, I have downloaded the suggested applications and installed Hosts. I
also modified the shortcut to the HostsManager, as you as suggested. Will
learn more about the two applications as fast as I can.
Thank you for your help!
***

"Gary S. Terhune" wrote:

> Scanning email is redundant. Anything that your scanner is going to catch
> it's going to catch as it's launched. So there's no reason to scan ahead of
> time, and that scanning definitely interferes with the delivery of mail,
> often known to cause problems.
>
> A HOSTS file is a database of IP redirects. When your system attempts to go
> to one of the sites listed in the database, it is redirected to some certain
> IP (like DNS, except this happens before DNS is queried.) To use this as a
> protective mechanism, you download some HOSTS file maintained by pros who
> add addresses as they become aware of them. Microsoft MVPs maintain one such
> HOSTS file. Every address in that file is redirected to an address that is
> (almost) always safe: your own computer (127.0.0.1=localhost). If your
> system has no home page (most don't) you get an error page instead. The MVP
> HOSTS file blocks all kinds of adware and malware sites, and when you use it
> to go to pages that have such sites embedded as advertising, you will
> instead see a small chunk of error page in that box.
>
> MVP George Geyde created a small app that regularly checks to see if there's
> a new copy of the MVP HOSTS file available, and if so downloads a new copy.
> Get HOSTS Manager here.
> http://www.mvps.org/PracticallyNerded/Software.htm
>
> (It's at the bottom of the page.)
>
> After you've installed HOSTS Manager, go find the new shortcut in the
> Start>Programs>Startup folder, and change its properties. Use the following
> command instead of the one that's there:
>
> "C:\Program Files\HOSTS File Manager\HostsManager.exe" /u
>
> I do not recommend TUI for anything. Yes, it's quite handy for lots of
> things, but it can get you into trouble, too. Most of the things TUI can do
> (that I'd want to do), I can do just as well without it.
>
> Please see the links on my sig for lots more info.
>
> --
> Gary S. Terhune
> MS MVP Shell/User
> http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
> http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
>
> "BAP" <BAP DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:978F35FB-D647-4F45-B933-B441D68298C2@microsoft.com...
> > Thanks, Gary for your reply!
> > You probably will see my replies to Ron and Don regarding my views. I have
> > not attempted to have AVG scan my email. You seem to suggest that I should
> > not. Is there a reason?
> > To my knowledge, I do not have HOSTS. Not sure what it is and if available
> > from somewhere. I do have Tweak UI, but I have not used it for anything.
> > Sad that no tune-up tool is full-proof!
> > *****
> >
> > "Gary S. Terhune" wrote:
> >
> > > I agree with Ron. I would use *one* antivirus that has a resident
> scanner
> > > (scans on the fly, as you're using the computer) but don't have it scan
> > > email. Also scan regularly (during maintenance is when I do it) with
> AdAware
> > > and Spybot. Beyond that, I'd use a couple of passive protection schemes,
> one
> > > using the Restricted Zone in IE (SpywareBlaster does this) and one using
> the
> > > HOSTS file -- like HOSTS Manager.
> > >
> > > *I* might use a Registry Cleaner or two, if I thought Registry guck
> might be
> > > at the root of a particular problem, but I'd be very careful about what
> I
> > > change, and not change anything I wasn't *absolutely* sure about. I
> don't
> > > recommend such tools for the average user, and there's no such thing as
> a
> > > "tune-up tool" or Registry cleaner that is fool proof. That goes for
> > > "tweakers", too.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Gary S. Terhune
> > > MS MVP Shell/User
> > > http://grystmill.com/articles/cleanboot.htm
> > > http://grystmill.com/articles/security.htm
> > >
> > > "BAP" <BAP DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > > news:43F7B937-9FCA-4219-B23C-0027E4BBAB64@microsoft.com...
> > > > Posts in this Group and PCWorld articles, often, seem to encourage to
> > > > download software and use it to safeguard against viruses or
> intruders. I
> > > > have downloaded several FREE versions of programs to see what they can
> do
> > > for
> > > > my setup. However, I have no idea of how some of these may actually
> work
> > > or
> > > > what should be running, whenever the computer is being powered up or
> when
> > > the
> > > > Internet is accessed. The only ones that I have presently running are
> > > Kerio
> > > > Personal Firewall and AVG Free Edition. Not knowing how good these may
> be,
> > > I
> > > > have also several that are inactive or, perhaps, run at times without
> > > > actually taking any action about the findings. These are:
> > > > HijackThis, CWShedder, No Adware, Lavasoft Ad-Aware, XoftSpy,
> > > > SpywareBlaster, MRU-Blaster, SE Personal, Cprocess,
> Spybot-Search&Destroy,
> > > > PCBugDoctor, RegistryFix, RegCure,
> > > > EasyCleaner, Registry Mechanic, RegSeeker, RunPCMightyMax, PCDocPro3.5
> and
> > > > Belarc Advisor
> > > > Would anyone care to advise me as to which may be of value, how it
> should
> > > > be used, which of the ones listed should be avoided and the good ones
> that
> > > > may be missing?
> > > > Thank you!
> > >
> > >
> > >
>
>
>