I worked on a machine for a friend who used the computer primarily for business, payroll and receivables. But the computer was also used to surf the Internet. When I got the machine to my shop, I was dumfounded.

Between the anti-virus scans and ad-remover scans, over 1000 items were removed from the machine. Despite all that, I was never able to completely restore the computer to normal. Any use of IE caused a flood of pop-ups, despite the fact that Ad-Aware and Spybot both said the machine was clean. I installed FireFox so they could continue to use the computer. Eventually they brought it back and I had to reformat the computer.

This friend lost the use of his business computer on two occasions while I had it in my shop. I spent a considerable amount of time cleaning and then restoring the computer to normal. I did the work for free, but think of how many times this happens, and how much money is spent because of spam and pop-ups.

When you get bombarded with annoying ads on TV or radio you can change the channel and no harm is done. Not the case with computer adware, spyware, viruses, etc.

This friend was unaware of the dangers of casual web surfing and did not understand the need for anti-virus. But isn’t this pretty much the norm for the average computer user? He and his staff are smarter now, but I know that machine will be back in my shop some day for another housecleaning!

I stopped using Norton/Symantec 6 months after I got AVG. I have a simple firewall from XP that always catches the crap and trojans. I use AT&T’s adware detection and never have a problem with them.

I am the first to admit that I know diddly about all this stuff, but I know what works and is simple to use.

Also most people who bring their system to me who have viruses/spyware (is there a difference anymore?) are using either Norton Antivirus/ Security (what a joke that crap is), or McAfee. I dont know why AVG Free works better as does Trend Micro.

Just an opinion from full time tecnician.

av – avast! 4.7 Pro (this prog is leet)

firewall – hardware, in the router, software firewalls are a waste of system resources.

spam – gmail + mozilla thunderbird + common sense

I havent had a single spam issue in over 6 months

http://reviews.cnet.com/4531-10921_7-6549954.html

I consider the DVR fast forward button to be one of the greatest leisure inventions of the past 100 years… I don’t get out much… Sigh…

Steve

I also use the hosts file available at http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm which prevents thousands of dodgy sites and their intrusive advertising ever touching my computer at all!

Unethical? I haven’t clicked on an ad, on any site, in years… if I am in the market for something, I search for it.

I also don’t feel bad about fast-forwarding past TV commercials, even though I am apparently breaking the “social contract” of commercial-sponsored TV programing…

This reminds me of the Wired story about attempts to protect the business model of selling prepaid phones at a loss:
http://tinyurl.com/tk2gl

TracFone pointed to a unique problem faced by prepaid providers… The prepaid business model is based on selling handsets at a loss through major retailers. …Since there are no contracts or termination fees, people can now …, buy a $60 phone for $20, unlock it, use it on the service of their choice, and the vendor has lost $40 in a single sale.

…there are organized businesses that will unlock the phones and resell them. Arbitragers put a call out on the internet for handsets, promising a few dollars’ profit for each one purchased and delivered to their distribution point.

Remember the Michigan “Terrorists” buying phones in bulk??
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=6940

As a result, TracFone is losing millions of dollars, as it fails to reap the intended economic benefit of its subsidy.

And – finally – the article’s idea that I believe relates to web ads:
New and innovative business models are great. But the burden of making them economically feasible should fall on the company that stands to profit, not on the broad base of consumers that will not.

Word of mouth rules

I use advertising to know what not to buy..

If i passively drive by a billboard with a hot chick displayed.. I don’t pull over and jerk off.. no matter what she’s sellin

If you paste porn pages all across my desktop.. well..
you must think i’m some kinda idiot.. and i don’t appreciate that..
no sale!

Two aids for the system re-installer: a USB memory stick (with all the anti-whatever software and a good browser) and a router. Router plugs into the net, you plug into the router. Much safer.

Tom

As for ads, it does suck being bombarded by this crap everywhere you look, literally. I have the AV, spam and ad/spyware protection, of course. I also have Firefox plugins that block 80% or more of ads. But in general, offline, I just change the channel, fast forward, switch radio stations, whatever… so I don’t have to deal with it.

This is a never-ending battle. For every technology used to force ads upon consumers, someone will develop an avoidance technology. And someone will develop an anti-avoidance technology, and someone will develop an anti-anti-avoidance technology. Both sides will continue to make more and more money doing their part at the expense and headaches of the consumer.