Conceptualclarity's Config

[conceptualclarity]

That's a good amount of knowledge about my setup, but there's not space for everything here.

I need to learn about backup. The complexity of the subject has intimidated me, but I have assembled some readings that I hope will help me grasp it well. I actually have downloaded a good number of backup programs on giveaways. I have to study and decide which is the best for me to use.

See my quite detailed introduction at http://malwaretips.com/threads/greetings-from-conceptualclarity.26257/

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

As a fellow user of Windows XP, I won't lecture you in a matter of fact way over what I am certain you've already come to realize about how our XP systems no longer receive security patches. However, as long as you continue using XP, and even after possibly deciding upon moving on to another OS such as Windows 7 or 8, you might as well be as safe as possible. I use Sandboxie www.sandboxie.com which is a free compatible software I've opened to contain the Firefox browser I'm on right now. Imagine that you have something you want to keep dry. Now, imagine placing your cell phone into a plastic bag before going out into a rainstorm. That's essentially what using a sandbox is like. Likewise, when you place a sandwich into a zip lock bag, if you wish to upgrade your sandwich with meat or cheese, you must first remove it from the bag that's keeping it from getting stale. That's why updating Firefox, or add-ons, only last (temporarily) for as long as you remain in the sandbox, and is a nice way to try something out, and definitely worth trying itself. It's as simple as remembering to put on gloves, socks, but really more like a radiation shielding space suit!

I'm using a Windows 8.1 lap top now, but most times I still use the pentium 4 desktop with Windows XP installed, but instead of XP I use lumbuntu that's installed beside my XP to go online. Here is a wonderful article you might like. http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2014/02/...-xp-users-should-switch-to-lubuntu-this-april

Well, that's all for now; and thank you for sharing your configuration!

 

[conceptualclarity]

As I said on the other thread, I will be getting on a better computer pretty soon, I hope. Windows 7, not 8. A Bronx cheer to Microsoft for all the heavy-handed pushing 8 on people. I will skip 8 altogether. It is another Vista episode I would say. Seems like Windows alternates between getting it wrong and getting it right, so we can hope Windows 9 will be good and user-friendly.

Thanks for the recommend on Sandboxie. I don't have the processing power for it on this computer. I once installed it, and it immediately froze Pale Moon with no relief after an hour, so I had to give up on it for this computer.

Is there any private messaging on http://malwaretips.com?

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

As I said on the other thread, I will be getting on a better computer pretty soon, I hope. Windows 7, not 8. A Bronx cheer to Microsoft for all the heavy-handed pushing 8 on people. I will skip 8 altogether. It is another Vista episode I would say. Seems like Windows alternates between getting it wrong and getting it right, so we can hope Windows 9 will be good and user-friendly.

Thanks for the recommend on Sandboxie. I don't have the processing power for it on this computer. I once installed it, and it immediately froze Pale Moon with no relief after an hour, so I had to give up on it for this computer.

Is there any private messaging on http://malwaretips.com?

Yes, look up at the top of the page & toward the right. Then, beside your user name, find IN BOX.

Another share: Hitman Pro (similar to Malwarebytes free) http://www.surfright.nl/en
Update: PS Hitman Pro found over 300 cookies on my XP system (Ad-Aware & Spybot bot missed) which exponentially decreased start up time on XP before it began it's recent retirement. At least set a restore point, although backing up (it's really time) would be preferable. Most scans are innocuous, but it saves headaches to be safe.

 

[Exterminator]

Is there any private messaging on http://malwaretips.com?

Click on a members avatar or username
In the pop up window click "start a conversation"



participants which you can invite more than 1 member
Message tittle
message
start conversation

 

[Oxygen]

Thanks for sharing.... even though I don't know why you have IObit malware fighter installed.... It doesn't even detect anything.

 

[conceptualclarity]

Thanks for sharing.... even though I don't know why you have IObit malware fighter installed.... It doesn't even detect anything.

Hello, Fantasy, thanks for your input. I think you are referring to a pcmag.com test. In my own experience with IMF as an on demand scanner, I have found that it does find things that way. However if there has been more than just the one test on IMF I would be interested in hearing about that.

 

[conceptualclarity]

Hello, Fantasy, thanks for your input. I think you are referring to a pcmag.com test. In my own experience with IMF as an on demand scanner, I have found that it does find things that way. However if there has been more than just the one test on IMF I would be interested in hearing about that.

I just saw another one-person test, from 2011, where IObit Malware Fighter Pro did poorly in realtime. One could hope they've improved it since then, but we don't know. I will certainly be open to adding another realtime anti-spyware program.

I was trying to find out if I could use it to extend the usable life of a WinXP netbook. Thank you for sharing your advice about Sandboxie on a Windows XP PC -- this is exactly how I ended up joining Malware tips.

As for my experience, I have 4 weaknesses in my current setup : old OS (XP), small hard drive, only 2 GB RAM, and single core processor. I have no doubt the processor is the greatest weakness. Sandboxie had me at nonstop 100% CPU Usage as it froze Pale Moon. I hope your processing is more potent than mine, and good luck with Sandboxie..

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

I was trying to find out if I could use it to extend the usable life of a WinXP netbook. Thank you for sharing your advice about Sandboxie on a Windows XP PC -- this is exactly how I ended up joining Malware tips.

As I'm still going through XP withdrawl, but I'm am glad to hear you'll try Sandboxie. I heard about from members & staff shortly after joining! You can run the more secure lubuntu, without losing or deleting your XP, by downloading the (Intel x86) image of lubuntu directly onto a disk, http://lubuntu.net/ and can try it before installing.

...
As for my experience, I have 4 weaknesses in my current setup : old OS (XP), small hard drive, only 2 GB RAM, and single core processor. I have no doubt the processor is the greatest weakness. Sandboxie had me at nonstop 100% CPU Usage as it froze Pale Moon. I hope your processing is more potent than mine, and good luck with Sandboxie..

@conceptualclarity, try HitmanPro, http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro/ it found over 300 items, & freed up my XP system which has a Pentium 4 CPU with just 1 GB RAM.
I recently downloaded Malwarebytes antimalware, https://www.malwarebytes.org/ It is a good free secondary scanner, and I just realized it has a backup feature you might be able to use!

 

[Ink]

I'm not sure what's changed since you initially posted, but you have too much real-time protection.

Keep the software you paid for, or shift it to another PC (if available), but I recommend uninstall programs that have expired or have no use.

Considering removing:
ASC Ult., IObit Malware Fighter Pro, Zemana Anti-Logger Free, Webroot SecureAnywhere (expired)
From experience, Zemana Anti-Logger Free did slow down booting performance.

Toolwiz TimeFreeze is a very good and free alternate to Shadow Defender, you can roll back changes upon a reboot and virtually zero configuration is required. You can choose to enable on start-up, or use on-demand.
http://www.toolwiz.com/en/products/toolwiz-time-freeze/

Or

Have you trialled QuietZone by Returnil? (May launch Tor browser).
http://qz.returnilvirtualsystem.com/features/

With

Alternate to Webroots' ID Protection (or previously known Prevx SafeOnline).
Trusteer Rapport, most list space when download via a Bank website. ie. Natwest ( http://www.natwest.com/personal/online-banking/g1/banking-safely-online/rapport/download.ashx )
https://www.trusteer.com/products/trusteer-rapport

Spoiler: Features

Keeps Computers Clean of Man-in-the-Browser Malware
Detects New Zero-day Threats
Stops Phishing of Login Credentials and Payment Card Data
Notifies Fraud Teams of Threat Activity

 

[conceptualclarity]

USER=11916]@conceptualclarity[/USER], try HitmanPro, http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro/ it found over 300 items, & freed up my XP system which has a Pentium 4 CPU with just 1 GB RAM.
I recently downloaded Malwarebytes antimalware, https://www.malwarebytes.org/ It is a good free secondary scanner, and I just realized it has a backup feature you might be able to use!

Over 300 items? Please tell me more. I suspect most of them were Adware. type of detections. I don't know how a system could keep going with that much actual malware. But I'm sure getting rid of that much bloat would help. I've kind of been saving Hitman Pro for when I really think I might be infected, since it's only one month for free removal. A number of other programs have given me no hint of genuine infection. I think I'll get Comodo Cleaning Essentials again soon. I believe Malwarebytes' backup is shareware. There is a good bit of free backup around.

I'm not sure what's changed since you initially posted, but you have too much real-time protection.

Keep the software you paid for, or shift it to another PC (if available), but I recommend uninstall programs that have expired or have no use.

Considering removing:
ASC Ult., IObit Malware Fighter Pro, Zemana Anti-Logger Free, Webroot SecureAnywhere (expired)
From experience, Zemana Anti-Logger Free did slow down booting performance.

Toolwiz TimeFreeze is a very good and free alternate to Shadow Defender, you can roll back changes upon a reboot and virtually zero configuration is required. You can choose to enable on start-up, or use on-demand.
http://www.toolwiz.com/en/products/toolwiz-time-freeze/

Or

Have you trialled QuietZone by Returnil? (May launch Tor browser).
http://qz.returnilvirtualsystem.com/features/

With

Alternate to Webroots' ID Protection (or previously known Prevx SafeOnline).
Trusteer Rapport, most list space when download via a Bank website. ie. Natwest ( http://www.natwest.com/personal/online-banking/g1/banking-safely-online/rapport/download.ashx )
https://www.trusteer.com/products/trusteer-rapport

Spoiler: Features

Keeps Computers Clean of Man-in-the-Browser Malware
Detects New Zero-day Threats
Stops Phishing of Login Credentials and Payment Card Data
Notifies Fraud Teams of Threat Activity

I like to have a lot of realtime protection. ASC Ultimate trial is over, so it's reverted to lighter ASC Pro. I tried Ashampoo Anti-Virus trial, but it was too heavy. Now I have a truly light anti-virus, Roboscan, with Bitdender engine and its own.

I wouldn't do without the encryption that Zemana free gives me. I find it to be quite light on my system. I'm keeping Webroot as an on-demand scanner and disabled its autostart.

Don't like Tor--way too stripped down for me. Quiet Zone looks interesting.

I will definitely get Trusteer Rapport on my next system in the near future.

 

[conceptualclarity]

I re-entered my post when at first my browser was showing it not gone through.

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Over 300 items? Please tell me more. I suspect most of them were Adware. type of detections. I don't know how a system could keep going with that much actual malware. But I'm sure getting rid of that much bloat would help. I've kind of been saving Hitman Pro for when I really think I might be infected, since it's only one month for free removal. A number of other programs have given me no hint of genuine infection. I think I'll get Comodo Cleaning Essentials again soon. I believe Malwarebytes' backup is shareware. There is a good bit of free backup around.



I like to have a lot of realtime protection. ASC Ultimate trial is over, so it's reverted to lighter ASC Pro. I tried Ashampoo Anti-Virus trial, but it was too heavy. Now I have a truly light anti-virus, Roboscan, with Bitdender engine and its own.

I wouldn't do without the encryption that Zemana free gives me. I find it to be quite light on my system. I'm keeping Webroot as an on-demand scanner and disabled its autostart.

Don't like Tor--way too stripped down for me. Quiet Zone looks interesting.

I will definitely get Trusteer Rapport on my next system in the near future.

Most, if not all, 300 problem items Hitman Pro weeded out were cookies neither Spybot nor AdAware, nor even Avira free (Antivirus) had discovered, even as I'd thought I'd cleared cookies regularly. XP was left better, faster, & reminiscent of how it was when it was closer to new. You shouldn't have to wait to use HitMan Pro, although I do strongly recommend familiarizing yourself with backing up the system first as afterwards one user account no longer displayed the full fields when logging on here, but that was the only down side (which was my own oversight) yet, here I am using the very same older hardware as I write this!

 

[conceptualclarity]

You shouldn't have to wait to use HitMan Pro, although do I strongly recommend familiarizing yourself with backing up the system first as afterwards one user account no longer displayed the full fields when logging on here, but that was the only down side (which was my own oversight) yet, here I am using the very same older hardware as I write this!

Could you explain more about that?

Alternate to Webroots' ID Protection (or previously known Prevx SafeOnline).
Trusteer Rapport, most list space when download via a Bank website. ie. Natwest ( http://www.natwest.com/personal/online-banking/g1/banking-safely-online/rapport/download.ashx )
https://www.trusteer.com/products/trusteer-rapport

Spoiler: Features

Keeps Computers Clean of Man-in-the-Browser Malware
Detects New Zero-day Threats
Stops Phishing of Login Credentials and Payment Card Data
Notifies Fraud Teams of Threat Activity

Maybe I could put that on my current system. What do you see in terms of RAM and CPU usage with Trusteer Rapport?

 

[Oxygen]

I'm not sure what's changed since you initially posted, but you have too much real-time protection.

Keep the software you paid for, or shift it to another PC (if available), but I recommend uninstall programs that have expired or have no use.

Considering removing:
ASC Ult., IObit Malware Fighter Pro, Zemana Anti-Logger Free, Webroot SecureAnywhere (expired)
From experience, Zemana Anti-Logger Free did slow down booting performance.

Toolwiz TimeFreeze is a very good and free alternate to Shadow Defender, you can roll back changes upon a reboot and virtually zero configuration is required. You can choose to enable on start-up, or use on-demand.
http://www.toolwiz.com/en/products/toolwiz-time-freeze/

Or

Have you trialled QuietZone by Returnil? (May launch Tor browser).
http://qz.returnilvirtualsystem.com/features/

With

Alternate to Webroots' ID Protection (or previously known Prevx SafeOnline).
Trusteer Rapport, most list space when download via a Bank website. ie. Natwest ( http://www.natwest.com/personal/online-banking/g1/banking-safely-online/rapport/download.ashx )
https://www.trusteer.com/products/trusteer-rapport

Spoiler: Features

Keeps Computers Clean of Man-in-the-Browser Malware
Detects New Zero-day Threats
Stops Phishing of Login Credentials and Payment Card Data
Notifies Fraud Teams of Threat Activity

Does ToolWiz Timefreeze require a Disc?

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

To illustrate: I had not (then) backed up the files or state of my XP system, so that "was the only down side (which was my own oversight)" After all was said & done, I felt (& still feel) very pleased with XP's overall improved state which Hitman Pro effected upon my system, and I encourage you to not put off rejuvenating your system, or postpone utilizing their 30 day trial because it's worth bringing your XP to perform closer to it's normally higher level would indicate as was the case in even one with far fewer resources as my old XP.

 

[Ink]

What would you need a Disc for? But no.

 

[Moose]

Toolwiz TimeFreeze is a very good and free alternate to Shadow Defender, you can roll back changes upon a reboot and virtually zero configuration is required. You can choose to enable on start-up, or use on-demand.
http://www.toolwiz.com/en/products/toolwiz-time-freeze/

Any problems with running with Anti-viruses? Any cons?

What about softpedia.com rating below:??
Toolwiz TimeFreeze
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Miscellaneous/Toolwiz-Time-Freeze.shtml

 

[Cats-4_Owners-2]

Toolwiz TimeFreeze is a very good and free alternate to Shadow Defender, you can roll back changes upon a reboot and virtually zero configuration is required. You can choose to enable on start-up, or use on-demand.
http://www.toolwiz.com/en/products/toolwiz-time-freeze/

Any problems with running with Anti-viruses? Any cons?

What about softpedia.com rating below:??
Toolwiz TimeFreeze
http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Miscellaneous/Toolwiz-Time-Freeze.shtml

I'm trying Time Freeze now on a system that, like conceptualclarity, still bravely sports XP. Coincidentally, Sandboxie's no longer supporting XP may mean members with XP (in the interim of switching systems) might benefit from what Time Freeze promises!

 

[Moose]

Cats-4_owners-2,

Let us know if you have any problems with Toolwiz-Time-Freeze?

Thanks!