AOL and slow Internet

Rinkerwolf,

 

You can download AOL 9.1 here:  http://daol.aol.com/software/91

 

Tony

Thanks, after I reinstall should this go away?

 

 

 My Computers:
Desktops:
-Dell Inspiron 531 - AMD Dual Core 4400 - Windows Vista Home Premium
Notebooks:
-Dell Inspiron 1000 - Intel Celeron - Windows XP Home Edition
-Dell Inspiron E1505 - Intel Centrino Duo - Windows XP Media Center Edition

Rinkerwolf,

 

AOL 9.1 has several programs that run as background.services.  These programs can slow down the overall operation of the computer.  They can also cause installation problems for certain USB printers, most notably those manufactured by HP.  As you have already discovered, surfing the web is faster with Internet Explorer than with AOL.  The AOL 9.1 VR (Vista Ready) is supposed to be compatible with Vista's built-in security scheme, but I sure haven't had a lot of luck getting it to up to speed when compared with Internet Explorer.

 

I can't really say that a reinstall of AOL will solve the problem.  It sure as heck wont hurt anything.   Although your antispyware indicates no problems, there are plenty of bugs that it could miss.  I usually scan with Rogue Remover, Spybot, Bazooka, AdAware and Windows Defender in addition to whatever antivirus program is installed on a system.

 

Hope this info helps.

 

Tony

Thanks, that information did help.

 

       Tell me if I am wrong. I heard that Internet Explorer is a main web browser that you can get lots of viruis. correct? Can you get more viruis browsing AOL or Internet Explorer? I am afraid to use Internet Explorer because of viruises. I was told that AOL had protection so thats what I have been using.

 

 

           What I'm asking is if Internet Explorer is an secure web brower and what I have to be on the look out for when using it.

 

         Thanks

 

 My Computers:
Desktops:
-Dell Inspiron 531 - AMD Dual Core 4400 - Windows Vista Home Premium
Notebooks:
-Dell Inspiron 1000 - Intel Celeron - Windows XP Home Edition
-Dell Inspiron E1505 - Intel Centrino Duo - Windows XP Media Center Edition

Rinkerwolf,

 

Where you go on the Web and what you download probably have more to do with getting viruses than which browser you use.   AOL's browser, as you have already discovered, add's an additional layer of security to your surfing, but you pay for that security with a slowdown in overall surfing speed.   You will notice the same thing when you install McAfee Internet Security, Norton Internet Security, AOL Security Edition or Vista Ready edition.  Since Internet Explorer comes with Windows, there simply are more hackers trying to prove they can "outsmart" Microsoft.

 

I rarely have a viral infection on my bench system, which runs XP and Internet Explorer and is online 24/7/365.  Since I have a firewall in my VOIP cable modem and in my router, I only use Windows Firewall.  I'm on RoadRunner, so I get EZArmor for free.  I run automatic virus scans on all my systems every night.  In addition, I periodically update Spybot, scan and "immunize" my system. I also periodically scan with Rogue Remover, AdAware, and Bazooka after updating their definition files. 

 

One of my bench machines uses AVG Free AntiVirus which I recommend for those with limited incomes such as retirees, single parents and teenagers who want to set up their own personal systems using systems they've purchased at flea markets or thrift shops.

 

Favorite avenues of "hackers" and relatively easy ways of spreading viruses are "junk" e-mails, "pop-up" ads, "phishing" site links, instant messenging, on-line poker games, peer-to-peer music and video downloads.  Pretty obvious why AOL and MSN require additional steps to download e-mail attachments.  Both of my ISPs, RoadRunner and IntrStar, offer WebMail and therefore, I rarely see malicious junk e-mail and spam e-mail because their e-mail servers are catching it on the way to my Outlook Express Inbox.   The same is true of AOL and MSN IMAP e-mail servers.

 

The AOL Browser, MSN Explorer, FireFox, Opera and Safari browsers seem to more secure than Internet Explorer.  The main reason they're more secure is because their coding is different from Internet Explorer and the hackers have to figure out a whole new method to attack them successfully. 

 

I reckon what I'm saying here is that Internet Explorer can be just as safe as any other browser if you watch what sites you visit,  what e-mails and attachments you open, and what files you download to your system

 

Hope this info helps.

 

Tony. 

 

Thanks, It helped alot. I have a problem with my TV and Graphics card and called Dell. After we were finished I asked about my Internet Slowness and that told me I have to call my Internet Provider.

 

              As far as Viruises I have Webroot Spysweaper in all of my computers. I use to have Norton Anti-Viruis but stopped using. Even when I had it I still only used AOL. I think I will try Safari from Apple.

 

             My other Question , If someone has a viruis and if they visit Google.com, That viruis is left behind, Correct? I thought other viruius were left behind from other people. Almost like if the viruis spreads. Whats Windows Firewall and Defender?

 

             Thanks, Rinkerwolf

 

 My Computers:
Desktops:
-Dell Inspiron 531 - AMD Dual Core 4400 - Windows Vista Home Premium
Notebooks:
-Dell Inspiron 1000 - Intel Celeron - Windows XP Home Edition
-Dell Inspiron E1505 - Intel Centrino Duo - Windows XP Media Center Edition

Webroot Spysweaper is only a spyware removal tool.

 

What are you using for Virus protection.

 

Avast FREE and AVG FREE are used by a lot of people. Both are FREE. Avast has a great real time scanner. You have t do a manual scan unless you pay for it. AVG does a daily scan, only if the computer is on at that time.

 

I use these products, all FREE Versions.

 

C W Shredder

Spybot Search & Destroy

AVG Anti-Spyware

Spyware Blaster and a hosts file.

 

Do a google search for these items. Download them and install them. Restart your computer in the safe mode, press F8. Do full system scans and it will remove all viruses and spyware. Viruses and spyware can only be removed with tools.

 

Also try CCleaner to help clean out your temp files, cache, etc.

 

I forgot Windows Defenders and Norton slow down your computer.

 

AOL isn't much better but if you need AOL to connect, you have to live with that.

 

 

Rinkerwolf,

 

PudgyOne gave some good suggestions.  All of the free antivirus programs and antispyware programs that he and I have mentionned are available at www.download.com.  AVG is sort of like the old Norton Antivirus before Symantec took over.  Lean and mean.  It has autoprotect and e-mail scanning.  It and Avast are very good free (for personal use) antivirus programs.

 

Windows Defender is built into Windows Vista.  It is available for XP SP2 on Microsoft's Download Center:  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/Search.aspx?displaylang=en   It is basic protection against browser hijackers and other forms of malware and spyware that directly attack Windows and Internet Explorer.

 

The Windows Firewall can be activated by opening Network Connections.  Right click on your LAN connection or wireless connection. Left click on Properties.  Click on the Advanced tab.  Put a check in the box beside "Protect my computer and network by limiting or preventing access to this computer from the Internet".  Click OK.

 

Hope this info helps.

 

Tony

 

 

 

 

Thanks, The info helped. I will check out the viruis software.

 

           Rinkerwolf

 

 My Computers:
Desktops:
-Dell Inspiron 531 - AMD Dual Core 4400 - Windows Vista Home Premium
Notebooks:
-Dell Inspiron 1000 - Intel Celeron - Windows XP Home Edition
-Dell Inspiron E1505 - Intel Centrino Duo - Windows XP Media Center Edition