Boring but helpful PC info & links to downloads

[ClubProCafe]

Lots of helpful PC info & free software antispyware & antivirus & firewall more


many recommended FREE software to get and use for PC protection

Please review many of my suggested FREE PC protection programs.

AVG Free Edition Free Virus Software
free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/
AVG Free Edition is the well-known anti-virus protection tool.

Ad-Aware SE Personal 1.05 (FREE)
Click the round red DOWNLOAD button to get the download
www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Popup-Ad-Spyware-Blockers/AdAware-SE-Personal.shtml

SpyBot - Search & Destroy 1.4 (FREE)
Click the round red DOWNLOAD button to get the download
www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Popup-Ad-Spyware-Blockers/SpyBotSearch-Destroy.shtml

a-squared (a²) a² Free = a2 is FREEWARE anti-malware program
a-squared (a²) Free - a2 is a freeware Anti-Trojan, Anti-Worm,
Anti-Dialer and Anti-Spyware (Anti-Malware) Software - best protection
www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/

SpywareBlaster (FREE program) to protect PC from Malware.
SpywareBlaster It's Free & effective protection against many malware.
www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html
This Free Program Protects Your PC with active protection.

All of these are of value, useful, and effective,
and these are free downloads, plus it's good to
have several different tools for this problem as
different programs for this catch different stuff
and it's good to do the various different scans
for PC spyware problems which will help get more.

Please get and use SpywareBlaster (Free Program)
to protect your net surfing and PC from Malware.

www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

It is Free and effective protection against many malware.

It is also recommended to have some Anti Virus
and also a Firewall, as a minimum PC protection.

Here's a good AntiVirus that's Free, AVG:
AVG Free Edition Free Virus Software
free.grisoft.com/freeweb.php/doc/2/
AVG Free Edition is the well-known anti-virus protection tool.

---This section below is for Free Virus Scan:

~~~Here is One antivirus:

Trend Micro - Free online virus Scan
housecall.trendmicro.com/

HouseCall
Scan Your PC:
Ease your mind and scan your PC for viruses.
Scan Now. It's Free!

Trend Micro - Free online virus Scan - Scan Now
housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

-----~~~Here is Another antivirus:

Free Antivirus online
www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/

Panda ActiveScan - Free online scanner
www.pandasoftware.com/activescan/com/activescan_principal.htm

-------===---This Section below shows a Free Firewall:

Zone Labs ZoneAlarm is a good and Free Firewall.

Zone Labs Downloads
Before you Install ZoneAlarm®, Make Sure Your PC is Clean!
www.zonelabs.com/store/content/company/products/znalm/freeDownload.jsp

FREE! Scan My PC for Spyware Before Downloading ZoneAlarm®
(Recommended)
download.zonelabs.com/bin/promotions/spywaredetector/index_za.html
This shows at the page the link is for above this last link.
Red button on this page here says "SCAN MY PC NOW!"

------------=====-----More ZoneAlarm Free Firewall:

ZoneAlarm Firewall Protection
www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp

Click small red button "Free Download"
at next page, click:
Download FREE ZoneAlarm® (Firewall Protection)
download.zonelabs.com/bin/free/1012_zl/zlsSetup_55_062_011.exe

That will let you dowload and save the install program (on your PC)
which you open and run after you download it to install ZoneAlarm.

===============================

[ClubProCafe]

CWShredder:

A small utility for removing CoolWebSearch
(aka CoolWwwSearch, YouFindAll, White-Pages.ws
and a dozen other names).

Spybot S&D and Ad-aware tend to forget essential parts of the hijack,
so until they update, you can use this to completely remove the
hijack.

This program is updated to remove the new variants once they come out.

The free version is available for download here:
www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html

InterMute : Products : Individuals : CWShredder

CWShredderâ„¢ Version 2.13
Released: February 2005

CWShredderâ„¢ Version 2.13 is the latest defense against the new Cool
Web Search variants, and it is included in SpySubtract PRO.

www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html

Download the stand-alone version of CWShredder

cwshredder.net/bin/CWShredder.exe

What's New With CWShredder?

Originally developed by Merijn Bellekom of the Netherlands,
CWShredderâ„¢ is now owned and maintained by InterMute.
CWShredder has been updated to include new CoolWebSearch variants.

CWShredder is owned and maintained by InterMute
since October 19, 2004. It is available from them
for free seperately, or integrated into SpySubstract PRO.

www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/downloads.html

a few other good free downloadable programs at this above page

article with documentation on Coolwebsearch

www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/cwschronicles.html

cwshredder.net/cwshredder/cwschronicles.html

====-----------------============

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner 1.13.02

Free Download Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner 1.13.02
- Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner detects a multi

www.soft32.com/download_9818.html

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner 1.13.02

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner Review
Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner detects a multitude of spyware,
adware, foistware, trojan, keylogger and trackware components; sources
of irritation that antivirus software does not deal with. The scanning
process will only take a fraction of a second and tell you how to
uninstall the threat using simple step-by-step instructions or put you
in contact with the vendor for the most up-to-date and safe uninstall
instructions.

- - - - -

Download Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner 1.13.02
- Detect spyware, adware, trojan, keylogger and trackware components
- Softpedia

www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Popup-Ad-Spyware-Blockers/Bazooka-Adware-and-Spyware-Scanner.shtml

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner 1.13.02

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner description
Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner detects a multitude of spyware,
adware, trojan, keylogger and trackware components; sources of
irritation that antivirus software does not deal with.

The scanning process will only take a fraction of a second and tell
you how to uninstall the invasive spyware or put you in contact with
the spyware developer for the most up-to-date and safe uninstall
instructions.

Spyware and adware is often bundled with software such as Kazaa,
Morpheus, Grokster, Imesh, Xolox, Gnutella and a myriad of other
programs, and in many cases installed without your knowledge.

Some send information about your surfing habits to ad companies, which
target you with popup ads that fit your preferences.

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner search for Gator, GAIN, Bargain
Buddy, CommonName, FlashTrack, IPInsight, n-CASE, NetRatings,
NewDotNet, SaveNow, Wurldmedia, etc.

The complete list is available here. To stay-up-to date with the
latest spyware and adware software Bazooka downloads the threat
definitions from the web. Bazooka is freeware and Windows
95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP compatible.

Bazooka Adware and Spyware Scanner Download

www.softpedia.com/progDownload/Bazooka-Adware-and-Spyware-Scanner-Download-6097.html

[ClubProCafe]

BHODemon (current "latest" version is 2.0.0.22)

BHODemon 2.0

www.definitivesolutions.com/bhodemon.htm

Try BHODemon - it's Free!

Think of BHODemon as a guardian for your Internet Explorer browser: it
protects you from unknown Browser Helper Objects (BHOs), by letting
you enable/disable them individually. It also monitors your Registry
and alerts you when a BHO is installed. Best of all, BHODemon knows
about the most common BHOs - the good ones, and the not-so-good ones!


What does BHODemon do?

BHODemon scans your Registry for BHOs, and presents any it finds in a
list. By highlighting a BHO in this list, and clicking the "Details"
button, you can see information about this BHO, and even disable it if
you wish. BHOs are disabled by simply renaming the DLL that houses
them. By renaming the DLL, instead of deleting it, you have the
option of enabling it later if you wish. Why would you want to do
that? Because the program that installed the BHO will not run if it
can't find the DLL: Go!Zilla, for example, won't run if you remove its
BHOs.


www.majorgeeks.com/download3550.html



BHODemon is free, runs in the "tray" area, and works on Windows 95 or
later operating systems (in other words, Windows 95, Windows 98,
Windows 98SE, Windows ME, Windows NT4, Windows 2000, and Windows XP).



BHODemon scans your Registry for BHOs, and presents any it finds in a
list. By highlighting a BHO in this list, and clicking the "Details"
button, you can see information about this BHO, and even disable it if
you wish. BHOs are disabled by simply renaming the DLL that houses
them. By renaming the DLL, instead of deleting it, you have the
option of enabling it later if you wish. Why would you want to do
that? Because the program that installed the BHO will not run if it
can't find the DLL: Go!Zilla, for example, won't run if you remove its
BHOs.



PCWorld.com - BHODemon

www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,23611,00.asp

(other good downloads of programs at this page)

Internet Explorer has a nasty habit of allowing so-called Browser
Helper Objects (or BHOs) to install themselves into IE. Some BHOs are
helpful, like the Google Toolbar, but others (especially those planted
by viruses or spyware) can be malicious and harmful. BHODemon gives
you a quick look at the BHOs installed on your PC, tells you whether a
specific BHO is known to be safe or harmful, and gives you the ability
to enable or disable individual BHOs with a single mouse click.

& & & & &

WinPatrol
Kill off unwanted background programs like worms, adware, and spyware.

BillP Studios: WinPatrol

www.winpatrol.com/

Good or bad ones, find out more about what software is on your machine
and discover its purpose. WinPatrol allows you to safely edit program
settings. Scotty the Windows Watch Dog monitors vulnerable areas of
your computer and will alert you to any changes.

WinPatrol 9.0

Scotty the Windows Watch Dog sniffs out malicious "mysteryware" and
parasites that may assault your computer. WinPatrol puts you back in
control of your computer so you'll know what programs are and should
be running at all times.

BillP Studio: WinPatrol Download

www.winpatrol.com/winpatrol.html


Increase Your Speed & System Performance.
Detect & Neutralize Spyware. Detect & Neutralize ADware.
Detect & Neutralize Viral infections. Detect & Neutralize Unwanted
IE Add-Ons.
Detect & Restore File Type Changes Automatically Filter Unwanted
Cookies.
Avoid Start Page Hijacking. Detect HOSTS file changes.
Kill Multiple Tasks that replicate each other, in a single step!
Stop programs that repeatedly add themselves to your Startup List!
Delete and Remove the most Stubborn Infections


WinPatrol uses a heuristic approach to detecting attacks and
violations of your computing environment. Traditional security
programs scan your hard drive searching for previously identified
threats. WinPatrol takes snapshot of your critical system resources
and alerts you to any changes that may occur without your knowledge.
You'll be removing dangerous new programs while others download new
reference files.


Download WinPatrol 9.0 FREE!

BillP Studio: WinPatrol Download

www.winpatrol.com/download.html

WinPatrol 9.0.0.0 (= current version)

--------------------

www.download.com/WinPatrol/3000-8022_4-10366958.html?tag=pop.feed&tag=feed&part=cnet

Software Publisher's Description

WinPatrol will sniff out worms, adware, keyloggers, spyware, cookies,
and Trojan horses. This program puts you back in control of your
computer with no need for constant updates. WinPatrol's goal is to
help you better understand what programs are running on your computer
and to alert you to any new programs added without your permission.
Unlike traditional security programs, WinPatrol doesn't scan your hard
drive searching for previously identified threats. Instead using a
heuristic approach, a snapshot is taken of your critical system
resources, and WinPatrol alerts you to any changes that occur without
your knowledge.

Version 9.0 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug
fixes.


--------------------

PCWorld.com - WinPatrol

www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22728,00.asp

Don't you hate it when you press Ctrl-Alt-Delete and find a dozen
mystery programs running you didn't even know were running? WinPatrol
gives you greater control over what can run on your machine. You can
set it to display additional information about--and approve
of--startup programs. You'll also be alerted when something tries to
load an IE plug-in or set a cookie. And to get rid of a particularly
nasty piece of spyware, you can use the "Delete File on Reboot"
feature, so Windows will get rid of it before any other program can
protect it or relaunch it. Scotty the Windows Watchdog barks if he
spots trouble. Good boy!

If you'd like to download the regular, free version, click the
following link.

www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_download.asp?fid=22728&fileidx=1

OK, I hope you can make use of some of these which may be helpful!

[ClubProCafe]

hard disk drive defrag advice, info and recommendations



I often suggest to people a true defrag program which
the defrag utility that comes with Windows OS, is NOT.

I have Full version of Diskeeper Pro by Executive Software for my PC.

www.executive.com/defrag/defrag.asp (Version 9)

If you are willing to spring for it, it is an excellent defrag
utility, thorough, and very fast.

consumer.execsoft.com/diskeeper/diskeeper.asp

You can also find an older 'LITE" version (Version 7) which is FREE

here:

www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=1207

Drive Utilities | Diskeeper Lite 7.0 Build 418
Author: Executive Software
Date: 2002-10-18
Size: 12.1 Mb
License: Freeware

Diskeeper Lite is a short version introduction to full-featured
Diskeeper. Diskeeper Lite can only analyze fragmentation levels and
run manual defragmentation on one disk volume at a time. All time and
money saving Set It and Forget It® scheduling, system management
functions and network controls are shown and explained, but rendered
inoperative. This tool will show you how easy the full version is to
install and operate across any size network . Diskeeper Lite will
help everyone in their selection of the right automated
defragmentation software for their homes and/or business sites

or here:

www.georgedillon.com/web/freeware/diskeeper.shtml

(which gives this link: www1.execsoft.com/dklite.exe
<--< EXE ! )

Diskeeper Lite

Fast defragger.
A free Win9x compatible scaled-down version of Executive Software's
Diskeeper automatic disk defragmentation system for NT.
Date 2002-07-24 Version 7.0.418.0 Size 12 Mb

Download: www1.execsoft.com/dklite.exe

Checked: 2004-07-01

[ClubProCafe]

system cache / paging file / swap file, advice / suggestions

This was written originally to post as a response to someone
for advice and suggesion as to their question at another msg brd.

The paging file needs to be on your main system
disk (where the OS is) and hopefully that is your
fastest hard drive (if you have more than one),
well if it isn't then have it or put it on your fastest
hard drive, and it is "supposed" to be what (#) RAM
(amt.) you have, at least, or 1.5 or 2x, but this is
sort of an old outdated strategy unless you, either
have an old system (several years old at least)
or a system with marginal/minimal RAM, and you
don't. Same size paging file as your RAM is plenty
and in actuality, with your 1 GB RAM (if you do),
you should never even use anywhere near this
amount in your paging file, with the exception of
when using RAM management programs that clean up
or defrag the RAM, which swaps everything in RAM to
the swap file/paging file momentarily.

The point is, with a lot of RAM you should use less paging file,
not need more, as this is "virtual" RAM, (slower) & it would be
less desireable to use more of that than trying to utilize all of
your RAM when you have more than enough.

I would set it at 1 GB (at most).

and another thing further.

Windows does NOT know best.

set your minimum and maximum paging file size
to the same amount so it does not get fragmented.

This is recommended to do actually.

a nifty utility about PC system cache is
a prog by outertech called cacheman, it's free

I have a new PC, with 2 GB RAM, and experimented with
different swap file sizes, trying to get the smallest that
will still work well enough, as this is actually a good idea to do,
rather than going with a huge paging file, smaller is better
when you do have more than enough RAM.

My PC has 2 GB RAM and I have the paging file set at 512 MB.

With my new PC which has 2 GB RAM I have
the paging file set to 512 MB and have no problems now
and do not get the Windows messages anymore saying
Virtual memory is not enough and need to expand it like I was
getting once in a while when I had my paging file set even smaller.

I usually am using only about half that mich anyway at most.
The best exapmple of how paging file is used is by the example
of how it uses it if you should have a lot of stuff open, and then
just leave the PC idle that way for an extended time (hours)
without closing the stuff you left open, like twenty browser windows
opened at sites and pages or whatever, lol

then it has become idle and put a lot into the paging file,
it also is not a good idea as the system will be totally sluggish
then and you'd do better at that point to reboot, but that's one
way paging file is utilized by observation, so it's value is kinda
BS when you have a lot of RAM, although, of course it is necessary,
and you should set it to a practical size, but that is not 1.5 or 2x
the amount of RAM your PC has as used to be the best advice.

every time your PC does need to go to the swap file and if it is
a big swap file, that's all the more seek it needs to do, like to find
a needle in a haystack, which is why I minimized my paging file
and also set the initial size and maximum size to the same amount (MB).

in Windows XP:

My Computer (icon on desktop, right click to pop up menu)

[select] >--> Properties (System Properties)

Advanced

Performance

Settings (Performance Options)

Advanced

which has:
Processor scheduling
Memory usage
Virtual memory

also in Settings / Performance Options

is: Visual Effects

I recommend "Adjust for best performance"
which is how I do it and I have mine set.

as for: Virtual memory

after you get to the Advanced tab in Settings/Performance Options
(as indicated above)

it's: Virtual memory

>--> Change

Custom size:
Initial size (MB):
Maximum size (MB):

>---> Set
>--> OK

it is the recommended setting to make initial size and maximum size the same,
so, you would set it in # of MB, so 1024 would be # to put in to equal 1 GB, and,
like I said I have a PC with 2 GB RAM and I have mine set at 512 MB paging file.

as for the handy free utility I suggested called
Cacheman by outertech (Outer Technologies), here is that info:

www.outertech.com/

You don't need to purchase expensive computer memory in order to
speed up your PC - download Cacheman instead! The Cacheman utility is
designed to improve the performance of your computer by optimizing
the disk cache, memory and a number of other settings. Cacheman
prevents frequent paging to the hard disk caused by poor memory
management, so you get improved performance, faster system reaction
time and greater stability. Wizards and predefined profiles make it
suitable for novices and yet it is also powerful and versatile enough
for the more experienced user. Cacheman also corrects generic
problems on systems with more than 512MB of RAM.

www.outertech.com/index.php?_charisma_page=product&id=2

What can I do with Cacheman?

Optimize your Disk Cache, Name and Path Cache,
CD-Rom Cache, and Icon Cache to speed up your computer

Periodically recover memory

Tweak several system settings to improve performance

www.outertech.com/index.php?_charisma_page=downloads


I hope this is useful info & advice to some folks.