[SEL] <snip>Now Antivirus and O.T.

[Jerry Evans]

At 08:57 PM 07/10/2009, you wrote:
>Errr... given that Windows 1 came out in 1985
>  <massive snip>

Hi Guys 'n Gals,
         Prepare for one of those "long posts" that I'm known for. (There 
is always the "Delete" key - bottom right on your keyboard.)

         Seeing as that the topic is steering toward antivirus software 
maybe some of you could give me a few pointers.

         The computer that I use to connect to the net with is a 4 year old 
Acer laptop and only has a "Celeron" processor (1733 Mhz with only 512 
Mbytes memory - running Win XP Service Pack 3 with all the updates.)
         Yes, I do know that it is a "shitty" little computer but for now 
it has to do.

         I've always been very aware and "up to date" on viruses (virii ?) 
and used "Norton Antivirus" for many years but, a few years ago when I was 
still on dialup, the Norton updates became just too big (more than 10 
Mbytes) for a dialup connection and I installed "AVG Free". (I do not use 
Microsoft's Firewall or Antivirus.)

         AVG worked very well for me but then they brought out ver.7 (I 
think) and now with updates I'm on ver. 8.5.420.
         This damn programme has now spoilt all my "computer fun". It is a 
total "memory hog".
         When I start up each morning the darn computer is useless for 
about 10 minutes while AVG "does it's stuff". (In "Task Manager", 
"performance" is "red lined" all this time and under "Processes" I can see 
that it is AVG (and their "add on" - TeaTimer) that is hogging all my 
resources) This "hogging of resources" is so bad that, if I open "Notepad" 
(for example) and type a letter it takes about 5 seconds for the "letter" 
to show on the screen.
         The next problem is that the "f%#*g" programme decides to run it's 
daily scan and updates at 5:00pm every day - I change this often but the 
next automatic update always "resets" it to 5:00 "f%#*g" pm. AVG seems to 
think that all it's users are imbecilic idiots and, no matter what they 
want everything is reset to what AVG's "f%#*g"
programmers deem best.
         On this computer that "scan" takes about 2 hours and in that time 
(usually about time to check if the new "SEL" digest has arrived :-)). the 
computer is totally useless - AVG is hogging everything. (I do know that I 
can set "Scan Options" in case you are wondering).
         Other problems that I experience (on this computer) are:
         i) When saving a file using the "save as" command the windows 
"save as - pop up" box takes ages to reach the stage where I can click on a 
folder or directory - I suspect/assume that this is while "f%#*g" AVG makes 
sure that I'm not opening a folder that has a virus in it - it seems to 
scan the whole disk first instead of letting me choose a folder and then 
only scanning that folder. After all, AVG has (previously) scanned 
everything on my computer, why should it now waste all this (my) time just 
to ensure that there is not a virus anywhere.
         ii) I used to have a problem with it's "f%#*g" email checking as 
well but managed to disable that some time back. My ISP (as I'm sure many 
others have) has a pretty good prog to sort out all the "nasty" email.

         O.K. those are my gripes - now for some answers from you guys. 
Please note that I'm looking for "constructive" answers from knowledgeable 
people.  If you want to post an answer then please give reasons for your 
recommendation based on my post above. I'd really like to hear your reasons 
as to why I should change to "such and such" an Antivirus programme.
         It has been recommended that I change to "Panda" or "Avast" but 
nobody has given reasons.
         Paul mentioned Microsoft and gave good reasons but I'm 
"Anti-Microsoft" (Hi Rob & Kelley - no I cannot change to Mac at this time 
:-)) - should I lower my expectations and go for Microsoft and why ?

         All I want is a programme that does not consider me to be an 
idiot. I want to be able to tell this programme what I (THE USER)  would 
like it to do - not what the "f%#*g" programmer thinks I need and, if I 
tell it to do "so and so" I do not want it to "reset" to what the "f%#*g" 
programmer feels is best for me on every update.
         I also do not want it to hog all my resources while it is doing 
it's job.

         I'm keeping an open mind here and asking for advice from guys who 
know what "it's all about".

         FWIW - I have not had a virus on any of my computers for many 
years - I put that down to "common sense" more than my choice of "Antivirus 
Software".

         I've also been "connected" since the days of "Bulletin Boards" - 
about 1991 - not as long as Paul but certainly not a "newbie" to the Internet.

         Hey Paul, I used to use "PC Tools" long before "Norton Commander" 
and Symantec arrived on the scene. My first "computer" was a "Sinclair" - I 
think it had the magnificent total of 1 Kbyte of memory before they brought 
out the next version which had (again, I think) the magnificent total of 64 
Kbytes of memory. That was a long time ago - now my engines are far more 
important to me :-)
         The first virus I got was "Stoned" I'm sure you remember it! At 
the time I was seriously stressed about it but, by todays standards  it was 
harmless. There were no "Antivirus Programmes" in those days. I often 
wonder if the "Antivirus" vendors are not the guys who write the viruses in 
the first place.
         All for now, thanks to all who have read this far before hitting 
the "delete" key.

Keep the revs up (or down)
Jerry Evans
Near Johannesburg in Sunny South Africa.
Etched Brass Engine Plates made to order:
<www.oldengine.org/members/evans/plates/index.htm>