I have my internet thru verizon and ran a virus scan. I've been getting weird pop-ups even though the blocker is enabled and weird error messages,. The computer has also been running very slow and crashing. The virus scan deleted 8 infected files and I am still having issues. I think it's because there are some files it can't scan because they are password protected. Does anyone know how to have those scan? I'm trying to avoid calling Verizon because most of the people I've talked to for their dsl don't speak english very well and it's very frustrating. Thanks.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 01:13 pm:

I have no clue.... Someone or someone's DH should be able to tell you what to do..

By Cocoabutter on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 03:07 pm:

What kind of anti-virus are you using?

It sounds like spy-ware. Download Spybot Search and Destroy and Adaware. These are 2 of the leading anti-spyware programs that no computer should be without. They are both free.

Also, you need a firewall to protect you from hackers. Get one for free Zonealarm.

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 03:27 pm:

Definitely, Spybot and AdAware, and the ZoneAlarm freee firewall. Here's the PCWorld page for downloading the anti-spyware programs - be sure to download the FREE programs: PCWorld. Here's the page for downloading ZoneAlarm: ZoneAlarm. Be sure to click the button at the bottom for the basic zone alarm protection, which is free.

After you have downloaded, open each program and get the updates. Then, run Spybot and AdAware. The first time I ran these two programs, I found that while they overlap some, each will pick up stuff the other misses - and I had nearly 200 spyware programs on my computer that first time around.

With the ZoneAlarm firewall, you will get a lot of windows in the beginning asking you if you want to allow this or that program to communicate to or from your computer, but once you make the choices for your basic programs that dies down.

The final step is to control the cookies that get put on your computer. I do that with Internet Explorer 6 by going into Tools\InternetOptions\Privacy, click the Advanced button, click Override automatic cookie handling, click prompt for both kinds of cookies, and click to allow session cookies (like for your Momsview sessions), then click OK until all of the Tools menus close. Again, you'll get lots of windows telling you so and so wants to put a cookie on your computer and asking you to allow or not. There is also a box to make your decision permanent for each site. Once you have made your choices for the sites you visit most frequently, you won't see that as often. And, if you change your mind (for example, if you want to sign up for something on a site and you need to allow a cookie but you already disallowed), go back to the Privacy page, click Sites, type in the name of the site, and you can click to allow what you may have earlier disallowed.

By Rayelle on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 03:37 pm:

Thanks, I will try these. I did call Verizon, I have spyware and everything through them and they told me to email the manufacturer of their programs, maybe I need an update. I will try the suggestions above right now! Thanks!

By Rayelle on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 - 08:25 am:

Thanks again. I don't want to jinx it, but it seems to be working much better!

By Ginny~moderator on Wednesday, August 1, 2007 - 10:44 am:

Rayelle, can you find your cookies folder? Mine is in the Documents and Settings folder. Every so often I go through it and delete cookies I don't recognize. Many cookies are spyware, which is why I like to control what cookies are put on my computer, as I described above.