# "How to protect and clean your computer from malware" thread badly needs updating! **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [August 30, 2015, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385 "2015-08-30T12:23:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/1 "2015-08-30T12:23:19Z")
[Link.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=538187) 1. Could the OP be updated more frequently? It’s dated 2009, and AFAICT it’s unchanged other than a couple of pretty minor adds in 2012. That’s a Rip Van Winkle nap - and then some - in Internet years. 2. Hell, even most of the non-mod posts are pretty long in the tooth, and of dubious value even in the opinion of other posters here. For instance, I tried NoScript because it was highly recommended in that thread, and when I mentioned my difficulties with it in another thread, the general reaction was “NoScript? That old thing? You should be using X, Y, or Z instead.” I bring this up because my desktop computer’s acting pretty buggy these days, and if the OP were fairly recent, I’d take its advice on cleaning it up. But I’m kinda hesitant to follow computer-cleaning instructions left over from 2009 when it’s 2015. Honestly, I think that thread should be split in two: one sticky for posts by mods and others authorized by the SDMB to give the semi-official Dope word on what works these days, and a second sticky for suggestions from the rest of us. As it is, the only way to make sure there are no official updates buried in the thread somewhere is to read through all the posts by random Dopers. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/2 "2015-08-30T14:20:58Z")
I will second this OP, and support the suggestion of a locked stickie with frequently updated instructions for computer cleanup that is useful to non-technical computer users. As a computer support professional, I would be happy to contribute to an updated thread. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/3 "2015-08-30T14:48:14Z")
I agree. If we’re going to host a guide like that - a fine thing, imo - then we’re obligated to keep it current. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/4 "2015-08-30T15:21:09Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Honestly, I think that thread should be split in two: one sticky for posts by mods and others authorized by the SDMB to give the semi-official Dope word on what works these days, and a second sticky for suggestions from the rest of us. As it is, the only way to make sure there are no official updates buried in the thread somewhere is to read through all the posts by random Dopers. Sounds like a reasonable suggestion to me. Let me run it around the loop and get back to you. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/5 "2015-08-30T23:00:27Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Sounds like a reasonable suggestion to me. Let me run it around the loop and get back to you. Thanks, **Colibri**. I appreciate. ---
**Author:** ![sangfroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@sangfroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangfroid)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2015, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/6 "2015-08-31T00:54:31Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > [Link.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=538187) > > 1. Could the OP be updated more frequently? It’s dated 2009, and AFAICT it’s unchanged other than a couple of pretty minor adds in 2012. That’s a Rip Van Winkle nap - and then some - in Internet years. > > 2. Hell, even most of the non-mod posts are pretty long in the tooth, and of dubious value even in the opinion of other posters here. For instance, I tried NoScript because it was highly recommended in that thread, and when I mentioned my difficulties with it in another thread, the general reaction was “NoScript? That old thing? You should be using X, Y, or Z instead.” > > I bring this up because my desktop computer’s acting pretty buggy these days, and if the OP were fairly recent, I’d take its advice on cleaning it up. But I’m kinda hesitant to follow computer-cleaning instructions left over from 2009 when it’s 2015. > > Honestly, I think that thread should be split in two: one sticky for posts by mods and others authorized by the SDMB to give the semi-official Dope word on what works these days, and a second sticky for suggestions from the rest of us. As it is, the only way to make sure there are no official updates buried in the thread somewhere is to read through all the posts by random Dopers. 100X this… Talk about “read my mind”! Thank you for asking **RTF**. I’ve been wondering how to ask this very question recently but hadn’t come up with anything. I’m also usually lost when it comes to finding the best, safest, “flavor-of-the-day” cleaners/scanners available. So much out there, and so much crap sprinkled with some truly awesome stuff. I’ve always looked to the SD for quality, trusted advice when it comes to hygiene. Uh, \*computer \*hygiene… Pretty please? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/7 "2015-11-02T15:39:19Z")
Just bumping this thread to see if the mods and admins have had a chance to think about this. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/8 "2015-11-02T16:54:02Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Just bumping this thread to see if the mods and admins have had a chance to think about this. Still a good idea. Unfortunately there is probably only one mod qualified to do the job well. I’ll poke him with a stick and see if he’s got the time to do something with it now. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/9 "2015-11-02T17:27:42Z")
Maybe some non-mod with appropriate expertise could become a [SDSAB member](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=772342) in return for taking on a chunk of this project? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/10 "2015-11-02T17:32:19Z")
I will be updating it soon. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2015, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/11 "2015-11-16T21:24:16Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > I will be updating it soon. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/12 "2015-11-18T06:02:37Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I’ll poke him with a stick and see if he’s got the time to do something with it now. You’re supposed to use a bunch of loganberries. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2015, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-protect-and-clean-your-computer-from-malware-thread-badly-needs-updating/729385/13 "2015-11-18T13:48:44Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I’ll poke him with a stick and see if he’s got the time to do something with it now. :eek: Oh, wait, a stick. NM.