Do not use optimizer software

[Doppelgaenger]

Just a PSA, if you ever feel the temptation to use one of those programs that supposedly optimizes your personal computer or your phone, don't. Just, don't.

In the past two months I've had them installed on my android phone, where it certainly removed all the excess junk files, and then proceeded to make my life absolutely miserable by slowing down the phone to where it barely worked.

The same happened on my windows laptop which was slower than a snail that just ate weed. I removed the software (IObit optimizer) and the thing is now back to being normal.

Worse, a lot of these programs are apparently data miners that snoop on everything you do and send it off to someone who pays to get that kind of data.

Tin foil hats!!!!

Anyway... /rant. You've been warned.

[MGPilot]

Some time ago PCWORLD did a comparison test of a number of those programs on computers where they had created issues that could slow a machine down. In every case the test computer ran slower after being optimized than before with their test problems intact. Hm.

[krglorioso]

I constantly get pop-ups from "Driver Support" which I know enough not to accept, but neither can I get rid of it. 

Ralph

[mtiberio]

run malwarebytes, the free version is fine

[sturgeon]

You'd be much better served, and safer, by looking on reputable Web sites for advice, and making the changes you think you need, on your own. If you keep track of what you change, you can always change back if it doesn't do what you want. And no, I won't recommend "reputable sites". If you can't decide which those are, you're probably better off just increasing the amount of memory in your desktop/laptop to its max, or getting a newer mobile.

[wheaties]

I keep getting phone calls from "Windows Support" to tell me they have gotten an urgent message from my computer saying it has a virus, "Am I in front of my computer now?"

"Which computer, I have several?" 

"It doesn't matter, are you in front of your computer now?"

"Well, of course it matters.  Which computer has the virus and how do you know it's mine?"

"Your computer sent us a report and you have a virus.  Are you in front of your computer now?"

"What is the IP address?  I want to be sure it's my computer"

.... this goes on for about ten minutes, until I relent and admit I'm in front of my computer.  One technician offered that my IP address was xxx.yyy, which of course it cannot be since that is only two numbers, and every IP has four numbers.

"Do you see the Windows Key?"

"Where is it?"

"It is between the Control and Alt keys to the left of your space bar"

"Oh yes, I see it"

"Press that key"

"Okay, pressed.  Nothing happened.  Did it send you a report or something?  Do you know my IP address now?"

"Nothing happened?"

"No...."

We spend another ten minutes trying to determine why the Windows Button does nothing.  I just haven't the heart to tell him I use linux and there's absolutely no way in hell my computer even uses the Windows Button, let alone sent a report about a Windows virus.   Still, it's only fair that I give him a chance.

Happy holiday's everyone!

Matt

[normzone]

Oh, you're good, [Matt]. The people at 419 eaters would like you.

So, two threads up at the same time containing references to recreational substances. I don't think a snail could eat much weed, but then again, it probably wouldn't take much.

[johnr]

I have a raft of clean up programs that I run about once a week but they are all on manual so they don't start up with the computer. The exception is the virus checker (Avast) It's the only one that runs all the time. Even it slows the computer a bit but I figure that one is worth it.

Running the others regularly certainly helps the computer though.  Having all sorts of stuff running in the background slows these things a lot.

[Sasquatch Jim]

  I like the way Wheaties scammed the scammer.  I usually just tell them to pack sand and laugh before hanging up.

  The last one that tried that scam on me told me that my windows had a virus.  I played along a little bit before
 telling him my computer was not even turned on and didn't use windows anyway.  He cussed at me in his first language
 as I laughed at him.
  I had a caller try to get me to donate to the Hawaii movement to have native hawaiians recognized the way
 North American Indians are.  I asked him why he didn't have a Hawaiian accent.  He first said, "What!" then cussed at me in big city english.  The first clue to a scammer is the caller ID.  If it doesn't show it is certain that it is a scam.

 BTW, WTF is optimizer software anyway?

[Wayne Orwig]

  BTW, WTF is optimizer software anyway?

It is like Dyna Beads in your tire. Like a placebo in medicine. 

[dibble]

We spend another ten minutes trying to determine why the Windows Button does nothing.  I just haven't the heart to tell him I use linux and there's absolutely no way in hell my computer even uses the Windows Button, let alone sent a report about a Windows virus.   Still, it's only fair that I give him a chance.

Happy holiday's everyone!

Matt

My Windows button opens the search(is it called Dash)screen (Ubuntu 14.something lts)

[wheaties]

My Windows button opens the search(is it called Dash)screen (Ubuntu 14.something lts)

Anyone using Ubuntu is okay in my book! 

I'm using Fedora 21  (oops,... shouldn't have told anyone that)  which makes no effort to find a use for that Windows button.  Linux has a nice tool or two that can be used to register keypresses, mouse clicks, and just about any other input event you can think of.  xev will tell you what key codes you're generating, and I'd have to do a search to figure out how to register those events,   a very nice way to bend the system to suit your own demonic ends.

Maybe I should do that.  I could write a little program to, um... "Initiate Auto Destruct Sequence"?  Wouldn't that be fun when Windows Support called? 

"It says Windows Support has to send the "disarm code"!  Key code:  India Delta One Zero Tango..... Send the disarm code!  SEND THE DISARM CODE!!!" 

  

[oldbike54]

 Met that Ubuntu fellow on a college campus several years back , nice chap represented his homeland very well .

  Dusty

[dibble]

I'm somehow not finding this crossover between Guzzi owners and Linux users that supprising.

[sign216]

I installed Linux on my spare computer that formerly ran XP.  Linux was okay, but the quirks (and I'm being charitable here) were so frustrating. 

I paid for it in my time, hours, loading the program.  Just time, no $.

Edit: Don't misunderstand me.  It's good that there's a non-commercial alternative.  Something outside the reach of the corporate giants.  That's excellent.  But Linux has it's own price to pay.