malwarebytes
 

I have had some trouble with my computers the last few days. Lost email files and lost emails. A buddy suggested getting some malware stopping software. Anybody have opinions about this? ....like what to get etc.?

I use Bitdefender. I use the paid version but the free version works well. I don't enable the VPN part as it slows my connection by about a third.

Protection
 

I use AGV free, they also have a better (?) paid version .

I used to have Norton but a bad bug went whistling past it so I stopped paying for nothing there .

Thanks guys!

Keeping Things Clean
 

It's important to run a basic cleaner every time you shut the computer down, for this i use CCleaner, also a free program, it cleans out the junk and clutter left behind by adverts and so on .

It also has a handy registry cleaner, this gets rid of dead links and so speeds the computer up .

I defrag weekly too .

Both these free programs are available in file hippo.com :

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=filehippo+ccleaner

You might try a forum called www.bleepingcomputer.com. I have been using them for years to resolve problems with my computers, viruses, malware, slow speeds - just about everything. One of the programs they have you download is malwarebytes.com and I have used it successfully many times.

It is free, requires you to download the programs and do everything yourself, but the advice is spot on. I have been a member of the forum maybe more than ten years.

how long would it take to download everything myself please?

Downloading
 

That all depends on your server and the processor your computer has .

I'd wait until the buttcrack of dawn as few other users will be awake and gobbling up bandwidth Tom .

Thanks Nate!

I bought malwarebytes this morning. I hope it will work for me as the cost bytes.;)

Helping Hands
 

You're most welcome .

I've gotten far more help here than I can ever repay....

A lot of this computer stuff is readily available and just lying around work places, because I'm not computer savvy and have a very strict budget I've been helped out by others here with various discs and downloads over time .

Progress is when we all push in the same direction .

I'm still hoping to get someone's left over Windows 10 disc, once I have that I can buy an affordable key cheaply .

BTW : I'm a big fan of CCleaner.... that's free too , look for it on hippo .

Apparently there is little need to defragment any more with the very large hard drives that we have.

Still I would explain my problem in bleepingcomputer.com and see what the guys say. Not sure why you pay for malwarebytes when those guys recommend it when useful and give you a link for a free download.

The basic package is free but for a fee they do more.

I use google mail, with strict spam filter. Also anytime making money transactions,I use a credit card. I dump all history right away.

Dfragmenting
 

Failure to defragment leads to ever slower operation .

Same with not keeping the registry cleaned up of old unused program links .