TECH SPECS by RandyMac
UPDATED! May 1, 2008: As a technology/media consultant and CMS designer/web portal developer I use computers or have something to do with them each day. But like anyone else, I get the odd nasty virus and some malware on my PC by not being careful enough about proper computer maintenance. My Dell laptop PC is one of the main tools that I have to have to be in business, so I have to be diligent about keeping everything working properly and in peek condition.
 To be of the best assistance to my clients and to be the best I can be in my career, I have to make sure my development computer is virus free, adware/malware free and running at peek performance conditions. Like I said, "I need my computer for my job and it is important for me to treat it respectfully, because it's not that smart. My laptop PC needs my help to keep it in the best health each and every day so I can use it for my work and my leisure time."
So I use the following PC applications and visit the following helpful Web sites on a daily and weekly basis to keep my laptop PC (WindowsXP) computer performing the way I want. To help my clients, my family and my friends, and even people I don't know, I highly recommend the following (potential) solutions to many common computer problems that WindowsXP users are faced with today. NOTE! Weblinks to download my recommendations contained in this article are listed at the bottom of this page. UPDATED: May 2, 2008 1. SUPER AntiSpyware Free Edition - so far, as of May 1, 2008, this is the only solution I have found to properly remove the Vundu virus and clean up most every other nasty virus and malware that most WindowsXpo user experience.
Recently, (April 2008) my best friend's parents had a computer problem, and they couldn't make much use out of their computer. They told me that that their WindowsXP based PC was acting up and pop-ups where jumping every which way from Sunday when they logged onto the Web. And their computer was so slow it was almost unbareable to use. This made it almost impossible for them to access the Web and with their computer not working properly, it was beginning to make them very frustrated. Completely understandable. People enjoy their PCs and want access the Web, fuss free, as they expect their PC to act like a new computer should work. Properly without any troubles.
They told me they had the Vundu virus on their PC, but they couldn't find a way so far to get rid of it, even though they had their daughter try to find a solution. It was a nasty one! So I said I would try my best to find a solution, and help them as soon as I could visit them. I visited them right away, and after spending a few short hours trying to find a solution for their problem computer, and after a few days where they have reported back to me that their PC works just like when it was new, I now feel I can recommend the following solution to others. If you have the Vudu virus, or other nasty viruses or malware that you can't seem to rid yourself of with your current PC maintenance programs in your PC toolbox (on your computer), you might want to try this (potential) solution that has now worked for a number of other people I have either recommended it to as a solution, or used to fix their PC. SUPERAntiSpyware is, in my opinion, one of the most thorough AntiSpyware scanners on the market. I downloaded the free version, and the multi-dimensional scanning and Process Interrogation Technology detected so much spyware that other products missed, that I have bumped it up to the top of my recommend list as a MUST HAVE. So far, as of May 1, 2008) SUPERAntiSpyware free edition has removed ALL the Spyware that I have encountered on my friend's or client's WindowsXP computers. The free Home User version of SUPERAntiSpyware easily removed thousands of problems from one of my friend's computers, and has removed tons from other people's computers. The company who makes the software claims it will remove over 1 million pests and threat components such as VirusRay, AntiVirGear, VirusProtectPro, DriveCleaner, SmitFraud, Vundo, WinFixer, SpyAxe, SpyFalcon, WinAntiVirus, AntiVermins, AntiSpyGolden and thousands more! So far, I believe they are living up to these claims. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is a WindowsXP PC user. It should be in any PC Toolkit, and best of all it is free and you can upgrade to the professional version any time you want. if you need the PRo solution. See links below for download link information.
2. Antivirus program? Avira Personal Edition Premium or the free version Because it is simple to use I often recommend Avira Personal Edition Premium as my first pick line of defense for virus protection as it is a consistent leader in independent antivirus tests and you can download it free of charge to try and use. Avira’s AntiVir Personal Edition Premium offers addition protection features and it is a low cost, low-impact, easy to use virus scanner that also includes rootkit detection and phishing protection.
It is recommended by many experts that you should use a program like Avira antivirus in conjunction with a PC firewall as it will help you to detect and defeat most of the unknown harmful stuff that can infect your WindowsXP based personal computer. See links below for download link information.  2. Adware Malware Program? Ad-Aware 2007 Plus or Free version
3. Ad-Aware 2007 Plus and the Free Edition remains the most popular anti-spyware product available for computer users around the world and tops nearly one million downloads every week. The free anti-spyware version of Ad-Aware provides users with advanced protection against spyware that secretly attaches and takes control of your computer, resulting in aggressive advertising pop-ups, sluggish computer activity and identity theft through stolen bank details, passwords and credit card account numbers. If you don’t need real-time scanning capabilities, then download the free version. If you need real-time protection consider upgrading to Ad-Aware 2007 Plus to protection your computer against spyware all the time. See links below for download link information. 4. System Optimizer Program(s)? For system optimization I use Advanced System Optimizer and TuneUp Utilities 2008 system utility programs because the combination of both gives me the best results, but most non-developers or most computer users can settle on using one or the other to help keep their operating system in top performance condition. I recommend using Advanced System Optimizer from SysTweak on a daily basis as it has the most powerful and complete maintenance/diagnostic and repair/recovery utilities available. It is hands-down, the best PC system utilities software around for beginners and experts alike. As a follow up measure I use TuneUp Utilities 2008 two or three times a week to keep my PC performing optimally because I can use the One-Click Maintenance feature to easily carry out and perform even more thorough system checks and error correction with a single click. Next column, I’ll discuss phishing and how you can protect your identity and personal information on the Internet from online phishing scams. WebLinks in this Tech Spec article to download free versions of PC maintenance programs that I have recommended in this article: SUPERAntiSpyware Website: SUPERAntiSpyware.com - free version for Home users and a free trial for professional version.
Avira Website: Avira AntiVir Personal Edition Classic
Ad_Aware 2007 Website: Lavsoftusa.com Ad-Aware 2007 Free
ASO Website:Systweak.com Advanced System Optimizer
TuneUp Utilities 2008 Website: Tune-up.com - TuneUp Utilities 2008 Free Edition Randy McCallum is an award-winning graphic designer and developer of Web-based CMS (content management systems), web sites, and web portal software applications for clients in Canada, USA and Europe. RandyMac is the core web portal designer and consultant developer of the Trail Chamber's new Web portal. He also writes about technology and feature columns about the Greater Trail/West Kootenays and his bi-weekly technology tips column, editorial cartoons, and tourism oriented columns about the West Kootenays and Greater Trail area featured in the Trail Rossland News and on his own web sites and web portals. RandyMac's other tech/tourism related columns can be found on these web sites: MyBCVoice - www.mybcvoice.com Trail Rossland News: www.trailrosslandnews.com or www.westkootenayunplugged.com Randy's contact email:
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