Microsoft easing into antivirus efforts

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How the other half - or three-quarters - lives: You wrote:
The amount of resources that ZoneAlarm takes for a dialup always seemed to be negligent to me. The problem has been configuration - and there as always a user is usually their worst enemy.

And frankly - if a machine is that cranky that a firewall might bring it down, then it's time to trash it - as it becomes nothing but a honeypot for trojans/spyware/malware - the load put on the machine from those kinda goodies will kill it faster than even Norton's POS firewall.

Many people in the US want to treat their computer as they do their car: get into it and turn the key. Then watch the 12 layers of buffed wax on the hood melt when the engine fuses because they haven't changed the oil in 30,000 miles.

Part of the equivalent to changing the oil is, as you imply, controlling what starts with Windows and using something like AdAware to kill the parasites.
I like to install AdAware because of the easier interface. Like most programs for maintenance, it could be improved by printing "Don't panic" on the main screen.
I admit, I've replaced "Microsoft Internet Explorer" with "Don't panic" and "Easy is hard enough" at various times.

I do actually have a point to make.
Namely that unless someone has a reason to be actively dissatisfied with their old computer, they will not buy a new one. Their P II may be running Office 2003, etc. but if the program freezes or bluescreens, they show their sophistication by calling Windows "crapware", a technical term which they're very proud to have learned.

A second point is that Firewalls tend to give a large number of false positives. I rarely encounter someone with dialup and severe malware because of a port probe. For one thing, enough can happen based on emails.
I think some people would open an email reading: "Open email to see the exciting new virus."

My final point is: Because I value my friends, I think I will change the subject away from their computers as much as possible.; Posted by: Anton Philidor Posted on: 07/01/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use