# what do i need to keep my computer secure?(for free)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-keep-my-computer-secure-for-free/237858>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 2, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-keep-my-computer-secure-for-free/237858 "2004-04-02T04:22:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**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:** [June 4, 2004, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-keep-my-computer-secure-for-free/237858/21 "2004-06-04T00:05:22Z")

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Check the task bar for spybot buttons. Click each one until you get a “do you want to to delete these files?” dialog. Click Yes, and it should complete.

I don’t know why is it does that, but it sometimes does. :dubious:

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**Author:** ![Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@Bren\_Cameron\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bren_Cameron_1)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-keep-my-computer-secure-for-free/237858/22 "2004-06-04T01:32:42Z")

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> [@Chairman Pow](#):
>
> I tried Avast and it locked my computer up and came up as spyware (key logger). I wouldn’t recommend it.

I, on the other hand, have been using Avast for a few weeks on a recommendation from an acquaintance, I’ve had no lockups, and it hasn’t turned up as spyware on any scans. What program said it was a keylogger?

I tried AVG, but startup became a twenty or thirty minute ordeal, so I uninstalled it.

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**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-keep-my-computer-secure-for-free/237858/23 "2004-06-04T02:06:58Z")

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Nope, it’s still that “restore is being made”…I just ended it with the old CNRTL-ALT-DLT

Dammit.

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**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2004, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-keep-my-computer-secure-for-free/237858/24 "2004-06-04T11:51:20Z")

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Turn off System Restore before doing the scan (Control panel - System - System Restore - Turn off for all drives)

And remember to turn it on again afterwards!

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