Expert: Lorry - 10/28/2006

Question
hi,
i read a few reviews and found out that zone alarm is pretty good and so tried out the 15 day trial


but when i went to open a few programe did not open that quickly...many time it took a bit too long...i have a 2.93ghz and 512 mb ram..

why is it taking so long? is there any internet security suite you would suggest ..or should i go in for simple software...i do get lots of mail to so antispam is also needed?


pls help me in this regard

Souvik

Answer
Hi Souvik,

Sometimes programs will slow down the computer, then you have to figure out if the program is worth it or not. Try going to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, click on Disk Cleanup and clean out some of the extras you don't need. Now, navigate back to System Tools, this time click on Disk Defragmenter, when done, restart the computer.

Have you checked for viruses? Using Internet Explorer, go to:

http://security.symantec.com/sscv6/default.asp?langid=ie&venid=sym

Click the GO button, then under Virus Detection, click Start. You might be told that you need to download and install ActiveX Controls for the scan to work, answer Yes.

Write down exactly anything it finds, then go to: http://www.symantec.com/search/  and do a search for what was found. Symantec usually has a removal tool and/or directions for removing manually. Make sure that you follow the instructions for removal, step by step, especially the part regarding disabling System Restore.

Instead of using the paid version of Zone Alarm, check out the free version, it's pretty good:

http://www.download.com/3000-2092-10039884.html

A lot of people use the above and the free Spybot Search & Destroy to keep their computers safe.

I would suggest downloading Spybot - Search & Destroy 1.4, a program that removes spyware, available from:

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,22262,00.asp

Once installed, enable Tea Timer. Open the Spybot Search & Destroy, click  the "+" sign next to Tools on the left side of the screen, click System Startup, then on the right side of the page check HK_CU Run Spybot Tea Timer.

The Resident TeaTimer is a new tool of Spybot-S&D which perpetually monitors the processes called/initiated. It immediately detects known malicious processes wanting to start and terminates them giving you some options, how to deal with this process in the future.

Check for updates before running. If you have trouble getting the updates, near the top of the Update Window, click the little arrow next See-Cure  #1(Europe), highlight the next one on the list, See-Cure #2 and try to download the updates. If that doesn't work, try the next one the list. until you get one you can download from. Being a free program, if too many people are using the same site to download the updates, some people will not get them.

Don't forget to use the anti-virus program.

Hope this helps!
Lorry