On May 23, 6:18 am, Gerald309 <gerald...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On May 21, 2:12 am, "Mike S." <littleboybl...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > A few weeks ago a relative was having a problem with their computer -
> > it was extremely slow. I ran several different spyware, rootkit and
> > virus scans using different programs. I ran them in normal and safe
> > mode and all results showed that the computer was clean. HijackThis
> > showed that a file that was a trojan, so I removed it. I also removed
> > all programs that were associated with spyware.
>
> > The slowness problem still persisted so I thought maybe it wasn't a
> > spyware problem. The CPU usage was at 4% and System Idle Process was
> > at 99. Everything looked normal, there were no odd processes running,
> > the hard disk and memory tested ok.
>
> > The relative took the computer in to be repaired and the tech said it
> > was full of spyware and viruses and reformatted it.
>
> > How is it possible that I ran several different spyware and virus
> > scans (using reputable programs) and nothing showed up? And the tech
> > claims he found spyware? Does it sound like he was lying?
>
> > If he was lying then I'd like to find out. I'd hate for my relatives
> > to take their computer someplace where the employees are dishonest. It
> > looks like the computer was reformatted but I'm thinking that maybe he
> > couldn't figure out the problem and decided to just reformat it and
> > then blame spyware.
>
> > I'd really like to hear opinions on this matter.
>
> ==========================/
> Next time use the following for "reputible antispyware" which will
> detect virtually all infection:
>
> Free scans...http://www.bluecollarpc.org/_mgxroot/page_10730.html
>
> Webroot Spy Audit (Top Recommended)http://www.webroot.com/services/spyaudit_03.htm
>
> Trend Micro AntiSpyware Scan Free Scanhttp://www.trendmicro.com/spyware-scan/
>
> Both Trrend Micro Antispyware and Webroot Spysweeper have consistently
> been rated in the top three with CounterSpy for years now. I use both
> intermittedly. (One protects the other). I personally as an Advanced
> User tested the top ten trialwares and quite frankly the two of these
> tied for finding the most positives. Both found four times as much as
> the next few products down. After that, it rose dramatically to ten
> times as much. I painstakingly searched my computer for every
> infection reported by each product and found that after the first four
> products the rest did present false positives - and shows to go that
> the best security softwares are known for virtually no false
> positives. In several years use, I believe there has been only one
> questionable item in both Webroot and Trend Micro. They are the best
> in the industry with superior real time protection with active shields
> blocking installations before they occur. I have found perhaps 2 or 3
> infections by full scans in 3 or 4 years now. Sure beats the the first
> results of finding over 30 infections before ever installing
> antispyware protection.
>
> The point I am trying to make is this..... in real world, there are no
> other products that actually detect and protect the machine in
> antispyware. Ask anyone who knows.
>
> As far as getting your money back - I am sure it would involve
> forensics to see what exactly was supposed to be detected by the
> repair shop.
>
> And this is my other point and one reason for replying. For the life
> of me I do not know why people go to Computer Repair Shops to get
> spyware removed. The software (Webroot) is only 30 dollars. I am
> guessing the Repair Shop charged over 150 dollars at least ? Did you
> know they may simply run "reputible" antispyware for you and charge
> that much ? I mean the Roman Puke Pit is long gone and what plutocracy
> is developing in this world - meaning like the rich life, the life of
> Rielly, that people simply drop their computers off to get their disks
> wiped and Windows reinstalled every time they think they are
> infected ?
>
> I mean I know this is not what you have done obviously - but when you
> see this time and again it is just very, very queer for lack of a
> better term. (real oxford dictionary meaning of queer). Isn't this
> like "killing the patient to cure the disease" ? It most certainly is.
> You have obviously been ripped off.
>
> There are only two places infections can be:
> Windows Explorer
> Windows Registry
>
> Get there:
> Right Click > Start > Explore (Windows Explorer, all files)
> Click > Start > Run > type in "regedit" and Okay/Go (Opens Windows
> Registry)
>
> ADVICE: Next time - look under the hood.... may save you hundreds.
> MORE: Get paid antispyware activating real time protection heurisitics
> that protect the same way antivirus does in real time. Free protection
> does NOT protect your machine against infection with the only
> exception being Windows Defender free from Microsoft that has active
> shields and real time protection ( so so).
>
> I must say as an experienced Advanced User - you were definately
> ripped off. Like malpractice suits for bad legal advice, then along
> these lines if it were a "reputible" Computer Repair Shop they would
> have told you everything I just did and sent you home to get Webroot
> and charged you nothing at all - and heck they may even sell Webroot
> on CD in their shop for everyone coming in with "infections".
>
> Computer Repair Shops are in business for electronics diagnostics only
> - to replace defective internal electronic components - NOT spyware
> and virus removal. If you have been told different - you have been
> lied to.
>
> webmaster:www.BlueCollarPC.Org/ .Net- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

PS ....FINAL REMINDER.... You have got to REALLY trust your Local
Repairman if the family members want to keep dropping off the PC in
today's world. It is STRONGLY recommended that you get a simple 1 or 2
gig USB Memory stick for like 20 or 30 dollars and upload all personal
files OFF the computer BEFORE dropping it off to a stranger. Not
software programs - but stuff like My Documents photos and personal
files and so on. They even come on pendants for the girls and
keychains for the guys piunk and blue. WHEN you get the PC back, you
just download everything back onto the machine and erase the stick.
You NEVER know who is going to start looking at all your bank
statements and passwords at any shop aanywhere.... I mean they already
ripped you off for a bench charge (like about 75 to a 100 dollars just
to plop the pc on their work bench without even touching it yet). Who
knows what was next ?

Think about it !