computer questions: ethernet, spyware, viruses

[Commie Basher]

(1) What is ethernet? Does it have something to do with internet connections, DSL, etc? Do I need it? I'm looking for a new laptop. Should I care if it has 10/100 or Gigabit Ethernet?

(2) I have a virus/spyware, whatever. How do I get rid of it?

Norton Antivirus finds nothing. SpyCOp finds nothing. I have ZOne Alarm Pro. But I have something. I have to type every other letter two or three times. My computer is slow and doesn't recognize every keystroke. My CAPS lights is always on. My USB port works intermitently.

[rdb3]

Sounds as if the commies have gotten you! Or are you trying to run Windows XP on a 136 MHz Pentium II with 64MByte of RAM?

Ouch! I don't see how WinXP would run on a system like that.

[alnick]

I have to type every other letter two or three times. My computer is slow and doesn't recognize every keystroke. My CAPS lights is always on.

Have you checked to see if the problem is a bad keyboard? Try plugging in another keyboard to see if you still have those problems.

[holymoly]

(2) I have a virus/spyware, whatever. How do I get rid of it?

You base this conclusion on the fact that your keyboard & USB port are acting up? I doubt that spyware is the cause. It may be a software problem, but it may also be a hardware problem.

You gave use very little information to go on. You didn't state what OS you're using, or what your system specs are (other than the fact that you have a USB port.) Without this information, it's very hard to provide any meaningful advice.

Depending on the version of Windows you're using (assuming you're using Windows)select:

Start > Run

Then type in "MSCONFIG" (without the quotes) and click "Ok."

Click the "Startup" tab and see what loads when your system boots up. If you find something suspicious, you can either search for it on your system (right clicking on files and selecting "Properties" may sometimes provide information) or search for the filename on Google.

[JammingJAY]

1: What is ethernet? It is the hardware level of networking.
2: Does it have something to do with internet connections, DSL, etc, well yes, it is the means in which data moves down your network cable.
3: Do I need it? Nah.

Now if you meant TCP, UDP, ICMP and IP these are “protocols” they are a standardized communication method. Both computer (or many ) must know the protocol or there is no “handshake” and no communication.
TCP/IP, UDP/IP and ICMP/IP are the standard protocols for the internet. IP = Internet Protocol. What happens is we take a TCP “packet” and incase it in a IP packet like this IP-TCP-IP. The IP part is internet routing addressing when the data (TCP) arrives at its destination it is stripped off leaving TCP. Got it?
There are other protocols like IPX, same rules apply.

Spybot S&D and AdAware sounds good to me. Spyware “tracks” your assigned spybot number feeding IP packets to the trackers. Maybe some TCP stuff. They use this info to “target” your spam by your surfing habits.

Sounds like your keyboard is bad.

Best anti-virus is safe computing. Don’t launch attachments or execute software you don’t know the background on.

Jammer

[RadioAstronomer]

What's with spyware and how harmful is it? I use zone alarm and am careful with updates and e-mail.

Spyware is software that is supported by advertising. It is tracking software that is installed on your computer without your knowledge or permission. Often it is installed along with a program or it may be a tracking cookie place on your machine as you surf.

To clean your system of these snippets of code I suggest using a combination of both spybot-search & destroy and Lavesoft's Ad-aware. Each seems to catch some that the other does not. Both are free and downloadable from the net.

If you are running Windows Xp, another program that is kind of cool is xp-AntiSpy. :-)

I also recommend AnalogX's Script Defender, DHCPfix, and SuperShredder, your virus scanner (such as Norton) of choice, and ZoneAlarm.

EasyCleaner is also a good way to periodically clean the rest of the junk off of your system. And last but not least, Sisoft Sandra is an excellent program for overall performance and tweak issues.

These are all free except your virus scanner with most likely came with your machine. Do not forget to keep it updated though.

Just do a Google search on any of the above names. That should let you find the downloads.

[judywillow]

Ethernet is the set of protocols which both the internet and local area networks use to pass data packets around. For home use, even 10 mps (megabits per second) is more than most people need. You'd need an ethernet card (usually around $12 at marketpro shows) for each computer in question, and then the cables and possibly a hub (about $50) to connect them or, in the case of simply needing two computers networked together, you could use a reversed cable and the hub becomes unnecessary. You have to specify local IP numbers for each computer and go through the ethernet setup routines in Windows or Linux.

I have a linux computer which connects to the internet, and that avoids all viruses and cybernetic mayhem, which is all targeted at Microsoft operating systems and software, and then I have a windows machine for running windows software, and the two are thus networked together. Once ethernet connections are established, the SAMBA package on Linux lets the windows machine view part of the linux directory system as if it were a microsoft windows network drive.

[Rain-maker]

Use Spybot Search and Destroy. I've tried several spyware removers over the years,

and Spybot does the best job for updateable freeware.

 

Get it here: http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=news

 

 

 Spybot Search and Destroy

Spybot blows venerable Ad-aware out of the water when it comes to protecting you against ad-serving software.
http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Spybot_Search_and_Destroy/4505-3514_16-20848563.html?tag=dir

 

 

Editor Rating: 
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http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,994109,00.asp

[Rebelbase]

I use Spybot Search and Destroy. Google the name. Its a freebie and can be run manually or automatically when you boot up.

You can set your Internet Explorer security to reject or prompt Active X controls and plugins. Go to Tools/Internet options/Security/Custom Level.

I set mine to prompt. There are times when I want to view a video and I have to load an active x control, then I use Spybot to delete it after the viewing.

[Vinnie]

I'm looking for a GOOD quality $200-$400 digital camera. Anyone got suggestions?

Nikon Coolpix 3100 (3 megs.) or Nikon Coolpix 4300 (4 megs)

I researched digital cameras for weeks before buying one.
IMHO.. the Nikons will have the best all around results.

Another that is very good is the Fuji Finepix 3800. It has the advantage of a 6x optical zoom. The Nikons ,and most others, only have a 3x optical zoom.
But the Fuji is not as good in low light. Ther is not as much manual control of it either.

I showed my nephew the pics I was taking and he bought a Nikon 4300 also. He is a photography buff.

If a zoom lens is your thing, disregard 'Digital Zoom' when looking. It's 'Optical zoom' that counts.

The Nikon 4300 will take 35mm quality pics up to 8 x 10. And if set on 'auto' it's 'point and shoot'. The pics are perfect, and I'm very critical when it comes to photography.
4300-$450, 3100-$350, Fuji 3800- $350.
I've seen them on the internet substantially cheaper but I opted to by from a local dealer.

Plan on buying a larger memory card than the one that comes with the camera. A 128meg compact flash card is about $75 and will hold ( depending on the resolution setting) about 100+ pics.

[Rebelbase]

Great minds!

[wireplay]

www.dpreview.com everything you would ever want to know about digital cameras. Can tend towards the pros but it is a great site and worth the read.

[B.Bumbleberry]

I'm looking for a new laptop.

Bought a Compaq X1010 laptop about 3 months ago. It is a closeout model and precursor to a newer machine with not significantly better features that costs a lot more. It was on sale at CompUSA for $1,500 (after rebates), which included a DVD/CDRW drive and extra RAM. Nice machine--almost miraculous technology, really. If you've been plugging away on an old obsolete desktop, you'll think you've died and gone to heaven.

Spent another $150 at Compaq to get a docking station so that all I have to do is pick up the laptop and go. No fiddling with connecting and unconnecting cables. Unless you're a heavy gamer, this machine would handle all your needs and solve your other problems as well. I haven't used my desktop since I got it, and don't think I ever will. Go splurge. And good luck.

[backhoe]

Also look at Spyware Blaster by Javacool Software.

Also, run a Google search on ethernet and learn more than you'll really want to know. IIRC, it's been around since DOS.

[Fishrrman]

per loin wrote:
Ethernet is a system of hooking computers together so that they can communicate with each other or share a connection to the internet. If you have only one computer in your home or office, you will not need or use ethernet.

Even with only a single computer, you will need Ethernet for the best connection to a DSL modem or to a cable modem. DSL and cable modems _do_ sometimes provide a USB connection, but Ethernet is the better way to go -- it's faster.

- John

[dennisw]

Many thanks. A friend told me that adware/spyware could track and criminally exploit my log on information for financial accounts, bank accounts, credit card accounts. I told him he was dead wrong.

I may be more vulnerable with my broadband connect and constant IP address. What are the greatest home computer invasion threats that find and capture your passwords/log-ons for financial services? To steal from you? Thanks to all who can fill me in.

[SSN558]

(2) I have a virus/spyware, whatever. How do I get rid of it?

Try Pest Patrol. It will get rid of the annoying pop up adds and clean the addwear left behind by your income tax software. It also looks for and cleans up spyware, key stroke loggers, and the rest of the commercial software trash.

[DB]

10/100 Ethernet (10Base-T / 100Base-TX) is basically a physical and low level type of network interface standard.

Cable and DSL modems for Internet access commonly use this type of interface to connect to your computer. If you have more than one computer the modem's internet connection can be shared with multiple computers by using a router. Virtually all consumer routers use a 10/100 Ethernet interface.

If you want to use a typical cable or DSL modem you will need a 10/100 Ethernet port. At this point in time Gigabit Ethernet is of little use and expensive because it is uncommon.

Neither your virus or spyware checker are of much use if they are not current. The virus checkers normally require a subscription along with Internet access so it can be kept current.

Depending on what version of Windows you are using you can press Alt-Cntrl-Del at the same time and bring of the "Task Manager" and see what all is running on your machine. You may have something hidden that is using up most of your computers resources causing it to perform poorly.

[Vinnie]

SpyBot

I ran Spybot a few days ago. It wants to delete a program called 'CDilla.exe'

I did a little research and it appears that this program is needed.
Are you familar with CDilla? Something to do with copywrted CD's.?

Do I need it?

[sirchtruth]

Thanks I really appreciate the insights. I am a little confused on pixels, Megs, and these memory cards. Are the cards necessary? Is it better the more card space you have?

The Nikon Coolpix 4300 sounds like a winner!

[wireplay]

My opinion is that the real threats come internally (i.e. leaving your password written down and someone reads it). It is tough to crack a very secure password and I have yet to meet someone who has had their financial services stolen over a network. I know it happens but I think the threat is way overblown.

Make sure you make cryptic and hard to break passwords such as $45thRy6. Much harder to break, especially with systems that limit attempts.