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Got Spyware? Throw out the Computer!

Posted by Zonk on from the nonsensical dept.

geeber writes "The New York Times (reg. required) has an article about a new response to spyware - throw out the computer and buy a new one. The notion is new computers can be had for $400 so it's a cost effective and 'rational response.'" From the article: "While no figures are available on the ranks of those jettisoning their PC's, the scourge of unwanted software is widely felt. This month the Pew group published a study in which 43 percent of the 2,001 adult Internet users polled said they had been confronted with spyware or adware, collectively known as malware. Forty-eight percent said they had stopped visiting Web sites that might deposit unwanted programs on their PC's. Moreover, 68 percent said they had had computer trouble in the last year consistent with the problems caused by spyware or adware, though 60 percent of those were unsure of the problems' origins. Twenty percent of those who tried to fix the problem said it had not been solved; among those who spent money seeking a remedy, the average outlay was $129."

5 of 591 comments (clear)

  1. Bit of a waste, surely? by RichardX · · Score: 4, Informative

    Surely you could at least just reformat the harddrive?
    Throwing out the whole PC seems a bit excessive..

    --
    Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.
    1. Re:Bit of a waste, surely? by bhtooefr · · Score: 4, Informative

      Well, put yourself in Joe Blow's shoes.

      You put in the "Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2" CD from your Dell, reboot, and it shows this weird blue screen that takes forever. It then comes up with some weird confusing stuff. If you get past that, then there's even more confusing stuff - stuff about NTFS, FAT, and partitions.

      Get that somewhat right, and it finally gets easy.

      Look at the easier Linux distros - put the CD in, boot, and it goes into a graphical setup that you can pretty much click Next on. Linux has surpassed Windows in ease of installation...

  2. And remember... by pwnage · · Score: 5, Informative

    ...that once you throw out that old PC, remember to replace it with a Macintosh. Problem solved.

    --
    Reminder: Apple owns 1/255th of the internet.
  3. Re:Bill says "thanks" by Eric604 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Most of time you can shift-click and select run-as on the installer. (also on 'windows update' and 'computer management'). If you need to do more complicated stuff you're ofcourse not a 'normal user' and should run as admin like you do.

  4. Dear dumb**** by browncs · · Score: 4, Informative

    1) Go to the HP site and download the freakin drivers.

    2) Go to Fry's or online and buy a freakin NAT router/firewall for like $20. This will block the worms until you can get the updates installed.