On-Line Annoyances and Anti-virus Fake Warnings – How to Minimize Them
The problems:
Fake messages from your anti-virus program warning you of non-existent threats, or asking you to purchase a product you already use. Avast has become such a nuisance I refuse to use it any more. Chrome popups begging you to try their browser and set Google as your homepage, when both are already the case. First page Google search results that are a decade old, clear evidence of rigged search results that are supposed to be ranked by recent popularity. Rogue popups on websites demanding you update Flash or Java, then install malware instead. Websites and videos blocked because they are “unavailable in your area”. This is the short-list, but dealing with these will make your online experience way better.
Solutions:
First lets deal with your anti-virus. Most slow your computer considerably and popup all sorts of rubbish, even in the paid versions. They install all types of extra cleaners and tuneup tools you’ll never use, that slow your comp. The good news for Windows 10 users is that the new Windows Defender Anti-virus, included in all Windows 10 Systems, is now fully improved and capable of providing you as good protection as the other free or paid options like AVG/Avast/McAfee/etc. Windows Defender won’t slow your comp down, and will auto-scan when it senses you are not using the computer for other things. So go ahead and uninstall your old anti-virus and Defender will automatically take over those duties. I still recommend you do a monthly Full Scan with Malwarebytes AntiVirus. If you tend to visit dodgy websites like betting or streaming video, then I would also install Cybereason RamsomFree Protection. Be aware that to uninstall your current antivirus is a 2 step process. First you uninstall it like any other program. Second, you visit the website of the old antivirus, find and download their “Uninstall” or “Clear” tool (links provided below article), and run that following the prompts, to delete all the rubbish left behind when it was uninstalled.
For Windows 7 and 8 users I have a different strategy. I uninstall the old antivirus as above, then install the newly updated FREE antivirus called Immunet. No popups or ads. No need for extra ransomware protection or monthly Malwarebytes scans, remove them before installing Immunet. After installing it, open it, in the Computer column go to Scan Settings and create 2 scheduled scans, a weekly Flash Scan, and a monthly Full Scan. Close that window. Next, in the Product column click Settings, check that ” Clam AV Detection Engines” are both turned on. Then click Close button, done. Immunet uses very little memory resources so after a few restarts your comp will run quicker.
Chrome browser and Google Search have both become so infused with data collectors, ads, rigged results, popups and all the other nonsense I just avoid them as much as possible. For a web browser I use 2. Firefox is my primary browser, with uBlock Origin (ad blocker) and Ghostery (anti-tracker) and Windscribe Free VPN add-ons installed. My backup browser is Epic Browser, it’s a version of Chrome with all the surveillance crap removed, and it has a basic free VPN and ad-blocker built in. For a search engine I use two, duckduckgo.com and startpage.com, both designed for security. Startpage uses Google search as it’s source, and does not track you, unfortunately it supplies the same rigged results. Duckduckgo search results are more fairly ranked.
To remove the geo-location (not available in your area) blocks on websites, including many US newspaper and magazine websites, set your VPN to the target country and reload the page. I suggest you use a VPN all the time unless you are on a very slow internet commection, under 10Mb/s. Don’t use a VPN on sites that rely on knowing your true location, such as on-line stores. Sorry, most free VPNs won’t get you UK IPTV, but they will protect you from snoops, trackers and open many blocked websites. A good VPN option is the very fast Windscribe VPN. The free version has a generous 10Gb monthly limit but still won’t get you UK IPTV. The Premium (Pro) version has a huge selection of servers to choose from and will meet all your advanced VPN needs the free version can’t. Get Windscribe VPN, free or Pro, here, which will also boost my Windscribe data limit (Thanks!). Click this link, https://secure.link/E5g9oIqW then click on ” continue to website”.
Remember to use CCleaner every 2 weeks, both the Cleaner and Registry functions. All the presets are correct, don’t change them, just run it as it comes.
If your new adblocker is blocking web content you want to see, find it’s icon in the browser toolbar on the far right, click it, and then temporarily disable it; or choose to “Whitelist” the site if you will be returning frequently so the adblocker automatically ignores that chosen site.
Links
Immunet: http://www.immunet.com/index
Epic Browser: https://www.epicbrowser.com/
Firefox: https://www.mozilla.org/en-GB/firefox/new/
Ghostery: https://www.ghostery.com/
uBlock Origin for Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/
Malwarebytes: https://www.malwarebytes.com/
Cybereason RansomFree: https://ransomfree.cybereason.com/
Avast Clear: https://www.avast.com/uninstall-utility
AVG Removal Instructions: https://support.avg.com/answers?id=906b0000000DiVPAA0
Norton Removal Tool: https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/norton_removal_tool.html
McAfee Removal Tool (MCPR) : https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/mcafee_consumer_product_removal_tool.html
CCleaner: https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/ccleaner_standard.html
Happy Computing and Happy Holidays, Naythan, DoctorLaptop. Contact: https://doctorlaptop-repairs.webnode.com or email doctorlptop@protonmail.com . Available thru the holidays to setup all your new tech gifts!
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