Terry's Computer Tips - Newsletter
February 4, 2007

Volume 2, Number 34 — Sunday, February 4, 2007

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

3.  Adware Popups Problem

Subscriber Sheikh Sarwar wrote recently to ask:

When I start pc, lot of popups, programs start showing up. I have to close one by one.
Need help in how to (a) stop this messup (b) close all open windows in one shot.

Thanks,
Sheikh Sarwar

I wrote back to advise Sheikh that it sounded like an adware infection.

There are many different antispywerae/antiadware programs. Just like antivirus, some are better than others. Some are designed to solve a problem once you have already become infected. Others are designed to prevent the problem in the first place -- and usually have a "solve it afterwards" function, too.

One of the anti-spyware programs about which I have been thinking for a while is XoftSpy SE. Several friends who fall into the computer guru category use and swear by XoftSpy SE or the earlier XoftSpy to solve problems.

The problem, from my point of view, has been that it is a scan-and-repair tool, but it does not include an always-running anti-spyware / anti-adware function. (This is the same issue that I have with the programs like Spybot Search & Destroy (free) and the free version of Ad-Aware.)

ParetoLogic, the makers of XoftSpy SE, has now released a new anti-spyware, anti-adware program called ParetoLOgic Anti-Spyware, which is available for download to give a free scan (you have to buy the program to make repairs). The big improvement, from my point of view, is that the new product includes always-running protection in addition to scan and clean functions.

As I've mentioned a number of times, my choice is CounterSpy to be the antispyware / antiadware program to protect my family's computers.

By the way, thte word I have is that CounterSpy 2.0 will be released very soon and will be a free upgrade for current users -- but will have a higher purchase price than CounterSpy 1.5 (the current version) has. If you're thinking about CounterSpy, now's the time to get it. CounterSpy has a free full-function 15 day trial.

You can read more antispyware / antiadware articles on Terry's' Computer Tips. They're listed in the pull-down menu above under Computer TIps, Security, Antispyware/Antiadware. You can also find them in the Site Map (link in the page footer and in the About This Site pull-down menu).

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4.  Cell Phone Shopping - I Need Your Input

I'm planning to get a new cell phone soon, and I'd like some input from you on cell phone models.

First, let me say that I will be continuing to use the Cingular cell phone service. While others may be an option if I was getting a new phone without any other needs, my family uses Cingular — which means that I get free mobile-to-mobile phone time when I call my family members (this is not restricted to family, nor do I have to create a "family & friends" list of whose phones would be eligible for free phone time).

The models I'm considering are the Motorola RAZR V3i (Cingular) , the Motorola KRZR K1 (Cingular) and the Samsung Blackjack.

If I go with the Samsung BlackJack SGH-i607 (Cingular) , I'll be shifting to a "convergence product," losing my Palm PDA and my Motorola cell phone and switching to a combination device.

I've been very happy with Motorola over the years, so that's one thing that's keeping me away from the Blackjack. Maybe Moto will release a similar product in the Cingular market.

If you have experience with these, let me know your positive -- and negative -- comments. Either email me or use the link below to comment via my Terry's Computer Tips Blog.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Volume 2, Number 34 — Sunday, February 4, 2007

Copyright © 2007 Terry A. Stockdale.  All rights reserved.