Is Yahoo Mesenger spyware?

[blackhead]

I have an old computer which is very suseptible to applications in the
background hogging up useage. So when using system monitor, I noticed
that the processor useage was 100% even though nothing was running in
the foreground. It turns out that when I run Yahoo Messenger, the
processor useage shoots up to 100% and when i close it, it's still
running at 100% useage.

So what's going on?

[Andy Walker]

blackhead wrote:

>I have an old computer which is very suseptible to applications in the
>background hogging up useage. So when using system monitor, I noticed
>that the processor useage was 100% even though nothing was running in
>the foreground. It turns out that when I run Yahoo Messenger, the
>processor useage shoots up to 100% and when i close it, it's still
>running at 100% useage.
>
>So what's going on?

After shutting YM down, what other processes are using the CPU? You
can view CPU usage percentage by process in the task manager. If you
don't see the "CPU" column while viewing "Processes", click on
view/select columns and add "CPU Usage", you can then sort the usage
by clicking on the column heading - click twice to sort high usage to
the top.

[Bill Ridgeway]

"blackhead" <larryharson@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:a480b40b-e13a-47d4-8ad8-913fff0a75b2@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>I have an old computer which is very suseptible to applications in the
> background hogging up useage. So when using system monitor, I noticed
> that the processor useage was 100% even though nothing was running in
> the foreground. It turns out that when I run Yahoo Messenger, the
> processor useage shoots up to 100% and when i close it, it's still
> running at 100% useage.
>
> So what's going on?

I think you're possibly tackling this problem from the wrong direction. Why
not look at stopping applications running at start up?

Click on <Start><Run>
Type MSCONFIG and click on <OK>
Click on <StartUp>
This will give you a list of all the applications running at start up
Untick all those that are 'Software', 'StartUp' or 'Common Startup' (but see
exceptions below)
Don't worry you are only stopping them from running not de-installing. Any
of them can be ticked again but I work on the basis that I will start an
application when I want it and not to have everything running (taking up
valuable resource) just in case.

You could also go into Windows Explorer Documents And Settings
\X\StartMenu\Programs\StartUp and delete any shortcuts (again, to
applications running at start up (but see exceptions below).

Be careful though. Don't stop antispyware and antivirus from running at
start up.

Bill Ridgeway

[Andy Walker]

Bill Ridgeway wrote:

>"blackhead" <larryharson@softhome.net> wrote in message
>news:a480b40b-e13a-47d4-8ad8-913fff0a75b2@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>>I have an old computer which is very suseptible to applications in the
>> background hogging up useage. So when using system monitor, I noticed
>> that the processor useage was 100% even though nothing was running in
>> the foreground. It turns out that when I run Yahoo Messenger, the
>> processor useage shoots up to 100% and when i close it, it's still
>> running at 100% useage.
>>
>> So what's going on?
>
>I think you're possibly tackling this problem from the wrong direction. Why
>not look at stopping applications running at start up?
>
>Click on <Start><Run>
>Type MSCONFIG and click on <OK>
>Click on <StartUp>
>This will give you a list of all the applications running at start up
>Untick all those that are 'Software', 'StartUp' or 'Common Startup' (but see
>exceptions below)
>Don't worry you are only stopping them from running not de-installing. Any
>of them can be ticked again but I work on the basis that I will start an
>application when I want it and not to have everything running (taking up
>valuable resource) just in case.
>
>You could also go into Windows Explorer Documents And Settings
>\X\StartMenu\Programs\StartUp and delete any shortcuts (again, to
>applications running at start up (but see exceptions below).
>
>Be careful though. Don't stop antispyware and antivirus from running at
>start up.
>
>Bill Ridgeway

Good point, but I'd recommend using AutoRuns instead of MSCONFIG
because of its vastly superior capability.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963902.aspx

[Bill Ridgeway]

"Andy Walker" <awalker@nspank.invalid> wrote in message
news:4858bcc0.328983421@news.webtv.com...
> Bill Ridgeway wrote:
>
>>"blackhead" <larryharson@softhome.net> wrote in message
>>news:a480b40b-e13a-47d4-8ad8-913fff0a75b2@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>>>I have an old computer which is very suseptible to applications in the
>>> background hogging up useage. So when using system monitor, I noticed
>>> that the processor useage was 100% even though nothing was running in
>>> the foreground. It turns out that when I run Yahoo Messenger, the
>>> processor useage shoots up to 100% and when i close it, it's still
>>> running at 100% useage.
>>>
>>> So what's going on?
>>
>>I think you're possibly tackling this problem from the wrong direction.
>>Why
>>not look at stopping applications running at start up?
>>
>>Click on <Start><Run>
>>Type MSCONFIG and click on <OK>
>>Click on <StartUp>
>>This will give you a list of all the applications running at start up
>>Untick all those that are 'Software', 'StartUp' or 'Common Startup' (but
>>see
>>exceptions below)
>>Don't worry you are only stopping them from running not de-installing.
>>Any
>>of them can be ticked again but I work on the basis that I will start an
>>application when I want it and not to have everything running (taking up
>>valuable resource) just in case.
>>
>>You could also go into Windows Explorer Documents And Settings
>>\X\StartMenu\Programs\StartUp and delete any shortcuts (again, to
>>applications running at start up (but see exceptions below).
>>
>>Be careful though. Don't stop antispyware and antivirus from running at
>>start up.
>>
>>Bill Ridgeway
>
> Good point, but I'd recommend using AutoRuns instead of MSCONFIG
> because of its vastly superior capability.
>
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963902.aspx

Maybe AutoRuns is 'better'. However, MSConfig is better in two respects.
Everyone already has MSConfig whereas AutoRuns has to be downloaded and
installed. (OK, not much of a down-side)
AutoRuns does seem to give more temptation (and danger) of messing about
with the Registry.

Bill Ridgeway

[Gaz]

Andy Walker wrote:
> Bill Ridgeway wrote:
>
>> "blackhead" <larryharson@softhome.net> wrote in message
>> news:a480b40b-e13a-47d4-8ad8-913fff0a75b2@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
>>> I have an old computer which is very suseptible to applications in
>>> the background hogging up useage. So when using system monitor, I
>>> noticed that the processor useage was 100% even though nothing was
>>> running in the foreground. It turns out that when I run Yahoo
>>> Messenger, the processor useage shoots up to 100% and when i close
>>> it, it's still running at 100% useage.
>>>
>>> So what's going on?
>>
>> I think you're possibly tackling this problem from the wrong
>> direction. Why not look at stopping applications running at start
>> up?
>>
>> Click on <Start><Run>
>> Type MSCONFIG and click on <OK>
>> Click on <StartUp>
>> This will give you a list of all the applications running at start up
>> Untick all those that are 'Software', 'StartUp' or 'Common Startup'
>> (but see exceptions below)
>> Don't worry you are only stopping them from running not
>> de-installing. Any of them can be ticked again but I work on the
>> basis that I will start an application when I want it and not to
>> have everything running (taking up valuable resource) just in case.
>>
>> You could also go into Windows Explorer Documents And Settings
>> \X\StartMenu\Programs\StartUp and delete any shortcuts (again, to
>> applications running at start up (but see exceptions below).
>>
>> Be careful though. Don't stop antispyware and antivirus from
>> running at start up.
>>
>> Bill Ridgeway
>
> Good point, but I'd recommend using AutoRuns instead of MSCONFIG
> because of its vastly superior capability.
>
> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963902.aspx

"Hijack this" is the real big boys toy in this department.....

Gaz

[Andy Walker]

Bill Ridgeway wrote:

>> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963902.aspx
>
>Maybe AutoRuns is 'better'. However, MSConfig is better in two respects.
>Everyone already has MSConfig whereas AutoRuns has to be downloaded and
>installed. (OK, not much of a down-side)
>AutoRuns does seem to give more temptation (and danger) of messing about
>with the Registry.

I understand your point, but they both can/do change the registry. The
advantage of using AutoRuns is that it can show you ALL the load
locations and not just a subset. Another advantage is the ability to
show only third-party entries by excluding the M$ signed applications.
That is, IMO, a great help in finding unwanted applications. You also
have the same ability to disable an app rather than remove the entry
all together, which allows you to test the change prior to full
commitment. Another definite advantage of AutoRuns is the ability to
select an object and do an internet search on it, which allows a user
to easily research the app before making any decision on what to do
with it. I suppose downloading a new app may be a negative, but it's
very small and does not have to be installed to run (you only have to
unzip it into a directory before running it.) YMMV

[Andy Walker]

Gaz wrote:

>> Good point, but I'd recommend using AutoRuns instead of MSCONFIG
>> because of its vastly superior capability.
>>
>> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963902.aspx
>
>"Hijack this" is the real big boys toy in this department.....

I don't think it is as useful as AutoRuns, and I've used them both for
many years.

[Dustin Cook]

Andy Walker <awalker@nspank.invalid> wrote in news:485943c7.363550968
@news.webtv.com:

> Gaz wrote:
>
>>> Good point, but I'd recommend using AutoRuns instead of MSCONFIG
>>> because of its vastly superior capability.
>>>
>>> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963902.aspx
>>
>>"Hijack this" is the real big boys toy in this department.....
>
> I don't think it is as useful as AutoRuns, and I've used them both for
> many years.
>

AutoRuns finds more entries for startup locations. HiJackthis misses a few
of them.


--
Regards,
Dustin Cook - http://bughunter.it-mate.co.uk
BugHunter v2.2e AntiMalware Removal Utility
For Windows users, I highly recommend:
http://www.malwarebytes.org - MalwareBytes AntiMalware

[Woody]

The problem is you are suggesting high tech tools to a person that is not
that computer literate based on his post. He should first use the basic
tools to determine what is running. That is start task manager and determine
what files are using the CPU time. From there we can make intelligent
suggestions. Before using any of the suggested tools he should have a backup
of his system...

"Dustin Cook" <bughunter.dustin@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9AC0DCC4A245CHHI2948AJD832@69.28.186.121.. .
> Andy Walker <awalker@nspank.invalid> wrote in news:485943c7.363550968
> @news.webtv.com:
>
>> Gaz wrote:
>>
>>>> Good point, but I'd recommend using AutoRuns instead of MSCONFIG
>>>> because of its vastly superior capability.
>>>>
>>>> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb963902.aspx
>>>
>>>"Hijack this" is the real big boys toy in this department.....
>>
>> I don't think it is as useful as AutoRuns, and I've used them both for
>> many years.
>>
>
> AutoRuns finds more entries for startup locations. HiJackthis misses a few
> of them.
>
>
> --
> Regards,
> Dustin Cook - http://bughunter.it-mate.co.uk
> BugHunter v2.2e AntiMalware Removal Utility
> For Windows users, I highly recommend:
> http://www.malwarebytes.org - MalwareBytes AntiMalware
>