The PC I am typing this from is my daughters , I dont have one i just use hers. I only use it for this site,ebay youtube and maybe the odd Ducati related research. My daughter uses it for facebook, twitter and all manner of stuff I dont know about and probably wouldn't want to know about. So I would say it's used like most peoples PC's. Oh and this PC is a sony vaio about 3yrs old Now to the bit about the security , its running whatever came with it (whatever that maybe) and Macafee,which may be what it came with. Anyhow Macafee keeps telling us "Your computer may be at risk" which it's been telling us for as long as I can remember. We havent renewed and dont carry out any updates (probably automatic) . As you can tell I am not nor do I want to be faffing with a computer. I see these internet security programs as a big money making con , yes I know people will come on saying I was hacked right up the arse and it is essential to protect yourself la-de-da-de-dar. But I've had no issues on this PC nor the one before. In fact I've had more issues with Norton Macafee and AVG on the previous computers we've had than I have with the last two that I've just left alone. Thoughts please. Pete.
Peter I use the inbuilt Windows security, my friend who is a systems analyst and knows about this stuff uses it, and told me a few days ago that it's just received the best buy vote from 'Which magazine' . Best of all it's free and already probably on your PC.
Get a Mac and forget about it (largely). I work in a Mac shop some of the time and we install no anti-virus software. Believe me, if we thought it was necessary or useful, we would. That doesn't mean your Mac is 100% safe, but it's a damned site safer than a PC. Say goodbye to Semantic and virus worries. But obviously, don't open attachments from odd emails. Have at least two email addresses: One for your friends and companies you can trust (Amazon, large concerns etc) One for anyone you aren't completely sure about (I use a Google address for this). I only access the Google one via Google - it has nothing to do with my email client (Outlook in my case). It has no access to my address book. I get no spam as a result - nothing I didn't sign up for. Finally, let your daughter understand that she shouldn't post anything on Facebook or Twitter that she wouldn't want someone she didn't know to read in 5 years time. That means photos of her drunk at parties, nasty comments etc. Some of this may well come back to bite you in the bum. In fact, the younger generation needs to learn the value of keeping your mouth shut.
Dream on. Given the margins we make, if a hypothetical commission was paid, it wouldn't even buy a pint of beer for selling a Mac. I dislike Apple as a company quite intensely. But I do think they make fine products that simplify people's lives. If you want to benefit from a computer whilst doing as little computing as possible, Apple is the way to go. A bit like just wanting to ride your bike without having to do any maintenance or care other than putting petrol in it. it will still need a service (software tweaks, maybe hardware tweaks) after about 3 years, but they are pretty hassle free.
I would dump McAfee staright away......it's cr*p and always has been.........it also has so many processes running within it and on your PC, it will slow it down. Before you dump it, get onto the Avast site and download their free version.....save the file to your desktop. Then uninstall McAfee..........you will probably have to restart the PC; then install Avast.......another restart is likely. I gave up using all the others (free and otherwise) having found that the majority are a problem in themslves and switched to Avast about six years ago.........Never had an issue with it and it has protected my PC all that time....it soon notifies you if there is something occurring.........it will pick up iffy stuff in junk/spam emails and protect your PC very quickly before you can even open the email. AL
Microsoft Security Essentials is free, and there are daily updates which are also free, plus major updates some Tuesdays also free.
Hackers and virus spreaders don't just operate daily or on Tuesdays............my security is updated every time I switch the PC on and thereafter at least three times daily. AL
Windows security essentials. You have to download it from the Microsoft site, but it is free. It's been voted best for a few years now. Best of all it runs silently in the background and doesn't use a lot of resources, unlike norton etc. edit- sorry just read petes post. Didn't mean to double post.
