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Consumer Virus Advisory Alert !  

    In my (over) three decades of being a software developer, an understanding of the latest methods available online to vendors, there is very little (in the way of) excuses for not delivering on a software product that:   (a) is free to download (and try)   (b) where the trial version has an internal mechanism to allow so many events before terminating.

    This is all possible.     In fact, many (good) vendors integrate online installation routines that protect their interest against a common pirating practice of installing/uninstalling, repeatedly.

    Imho, it is like "holding a gun" to your potential customer's head,
at a time of stress and duress.

    At Shop Las Vegas, the little things that we can do to help our advertisers and actually, anyone that can read this section a more productive computer user, we want to do it.

    "What goes around, comes around." .. is one of the oldest consultant adages that good consultants live by.

    All software products found on this page are provided as a public service.     Shop Las Vegas and its sister webportal Phoenix Shopper will not be held liable for the possible risk involved in their use for their respective functions.     We do use them, but we can not provide any guarantee that same will resolve your computer problems.     Good luck.

End your email problems!    
Note:   only for use with
Outlook Express !    

And, now the same people that brought you
Spam Fighter, have a new "fighter,"
Spyware Fighter !


SPAMfighter has saved Internet users 158 years of work.
"SPAMfighter passes the one million user mark"
SPAMfighter can now remove spam emails that contain only images
Asia the new breeding ground for spam
Political Spam, The New Menace
Yahoo Gets “Yam”med by a Worm
Anti-Spam Laws may not Solve the Problem

Excerpt on 6/14/06

We have used other spam fighter utilities that required you to look at your inbox every day, check off the mail you didn't want (spam) and if you saw something that you wanted to add to your filter *, manually do that again.
This method utilizes a database concept where you do voluntarily have to block something that is not in the SPAMFighter db,
but it is a collective effort where others block the same thing and you never see it in your inbox ever again !
* The filter concept for blocking email, as you may already know, is not very effective.
See SPAMfighter has saved Internet users 158 years of work.



Another "fighter" product
for viruses too !

    CNET Editor:     Rating ~ Good (6.4 out of 10)     Spybot Search and Destroy 1.4 is a free, fast, proactive antispyware app, and it doesn't require you to provide an e-mail address or any other information about yourself.     Of the antispyware software tested by Download.com, however, Spybot tested dead last, leaving behind several known pests, but it finished near the middle in overall performance....

    At this time, we only promote products (above) because they are given freely and/or have trial periods, eg, 30-days, with fully functional operation.     The reason being that none of the spyware or anti-virus products tested find the virus that we have now.     We have been working with NoAdware tech support staff which has provided many suggestions, but as of now, no solution for our infection (a boot issue.)     Stay tuned.

Disclaimer :   none of the products below are suggested to cure your problems.     Many of the products (below) will provide a "free" scan, and nothing more, ie, fixes.

In fact,   I hope you will email me, above, with your testimonial of being able to handle, yourself, a serious computer system infection. Currently under Evaluation:     I have purchased several spyware, anti-virus, and registry utility programs for the explicit purpose of defending our business systems against malicious hackers.     There is a fourth group of utility products, firewall, that I have yet to review.     Today, the utility industry for computer protection has many diverse products that, keep in mind, address very specific areas.     Awareness of this fact will save you a lot of grief and dissatisfaction with each and every product.     For instance, in the major area of the Registry File, some say they will "clean" it while others say they with "optimize" it.     Yes, you want a product that will do both.     Anti-virus products, eg, McAfee, specifically designed only to handle viruses on your computer, and not email, etc.     Spyware is a tricky new innovation by hackers and like virus scans, based on a database file that must be constantly updated in order to protect you from the latest hacker innovations !     No updates, no protection.     That concept is pretty straight forward where many of these vendors give you the first year free and then demand a fee for continued database protection support.     I know, many of you are feeling that that whole scheme isn't quite fair.     You and me, both.     In fact, it is outrageous that the software fee isn't sufficient for continued support.     Furthermore, people in our industry in a leadership roll such as Mr. Bill Gates and his corporation, Microsoft™, should take on the task of cleansing the servers of the world and there would be no need for firewalls or anti-virus scanners or spyware detectors.     Later this week, we will post negative results of the products currently under evaluation as well as those previously mentioned above.     For now, though, we will leave you with another good product link for your own personal evaluation and consideration.     Please keep in mind, Shop Las Vegas is not affiliated with any of these products and provides this information as a public service.     You, and you alone are responsible for all risk in acquiring and using these products .. just like we are ! Registry | Lexun RegScrubXP 3.25 | Freeware   Click icon and do a search on keywords "Reg Cleaner Registry" -- you'll be glad you did!     Here's a good one !     RegCleaner Description:   RegCleaner is an easy to use program.     With RegCleaner you can easily get rid of those old and obsolete registry entries created by software that you have destroyed ages ago. And by easily, I mean easily.     You don´t have to be any expert to use this program.     RegSeeker is a perfect companion for your Windows registry ! RegSeeker includes a powerful registry cleaner and can display various informations like your startup entries, several histories (even index.dat files), installed applications and much more ! With RegSeeker you can search for any item inside your registry, export/delete the results, open them in the registry. RegSeeker also includes a tweaks panel to optimize your OS ! Now RegSeeker includes a file tool to search for duplicate files, bad shortcuts and more !     RegSeeker is FREE for personal use only ! For any usage in any Company or Organization, please contact us (regseeker@hoverdesk.net) for licensing informations.     Download RegSeeker Screen Shot     Reg Scan Results Shot Visit the Hover Desk -- you'll be glad you did !     Beucoup freeware ! RegSeeker !     HoverIP !     HoverSnap !     HoverNews !   and   HoverMatch ! Free Trial Offer with this one ! In our opinion, as long as the product is fully functional .. okay. Click on the box to get yours ! And, visit CNET Download dot-com; click on the logo.         The Registry is a heart and soul of any Windows system. It contains information that controls how your Windows appears and how it behaves. Most applications today use registry to store configuration and other important data. When you install an application, a new registry entries will be created. These entries will automatically be deleted when you uninstall the application. Unfortunately, it does not always work that way. Sometimes, you will find that some applications fail to remove their own registry entries. These entries will become obsolete.     After a long period, after installing and uninstalling a lot number of applications, your Windows registry will contain a large number of obsolete entries. These will significantly increase the registry size and thus will slowdown your computer, because Windows will need more time to load, search, and read data from registry.     To keep your computer in top performance, it is recommended to periodically clean your Windows registry. by PCTools "Maker of SpyDoctor!" Warning:   trial version installed .. only allows you to scan for problems. To correct problems, you must register $$$ (Click on the box ..)     Award-winning registry cleaner to fix Windows errors and optimize software performance.     Registry Mechanic is an advanced registry cleaner for Windows that can safely clean and repair problems with your registry in a few simple mouse clicks! Easily fix problems with the Windows registry that are a common cause of crashes and error messages. Featured in "PC Plus Magazine!" Register to Fix Problems With Registry Cleaner you can safely clean and repair Windows registry problems with a few simple mouse clicks! Problems with the Windows registry are a common cause of Windows crashes and error messages. By using a Registry Cleaner regularly and fixing your registry your system should not only be more stable but it will also help Windows and your software run faster. Warning Notice! Tech Support Credits:     XoftSpy provided some good leads for other utilities.     Here is the source:     AntiVirus - Spyware - Cleaners     Win32.Worm.Welchia.A squasher .. BitDefender   Virus Encyclopedia     Virus Tips     Naming Conventions     BitDefender has a major utility product for protecting your computer and may be some day, we will look at it.     NoAdware sent me a diagnostic utility that compliments NoAdware spyware utility.     We have to presume it is for registered spyware owners and we can not take liberty to distribute same without permission. Here are some more terrific shareware/freeware !         FAQ     Pop-Up Killer ("Places -- techi's don't want you to know about!") WugNet on removing a program ... Task Manager is disabled !     Help ! More on TechSpot Threads ! And, "Annoyances dot-org Forum" Thread -- Another. Everything you always wanted to know about Task Manager, but were scared to ask ! "Task Manager Extreme" by Coding Horror ! Task Manager Overview by Microsoft™ blogs.technet.com archive A word on "Net Nanny" Dr. Hoiby ~   "Who lock me?!" Introducing .. Statica -- Moderator/Tech Support for PC Mech dot-com ! (Click on him to view the solution thread.) Dr. Dotnetsky will see you now ! "gREAT Site! -- If Frank recommends it, you know it's gREAT !!!" (Click on the Doc)

Editorial:     There are malicious hackers in the world bent on destroying commerce.     Until government agencies take on responsibility to disinfect internet servers and prosecute to the highest degree (world-wide) virus terrorist, we are all susceptible to email and web source virus attacks on our computer systems.     At this time, like boarding an airliner, we are limited to the maximum benefit of utilizing internet services, ie, "opening attachments and files and pop-ups."     This must cease.     You have politicians that want to take credit for founding the internet, but will walk away from the related issues of safe guarding same.     You have come here, to this page, for solutions and not bull, but I must take this opportunity to get on my "soap box," and spill my guts.     As a self-proclaimed industry leader with three decades of computer software expertise, I can assure you that no one person knows everything there is to know about computers -- whether hardware or software.     At best, we are all specialists in very specific (and narrow) areas of computer science.     Last evening, after several (wasted) hours of research, I noticed my installed software list included several items that I was not familiar with.     It was probably something that was slowing my computer down for several months and I did not know.     I use the XP File Explorer extensively for file operations and when I noticed that my available disk drive space was under one gigabyte, I was "beside myself."     Now, the (initial) advice that I am dispensing here applies to a recent computer user enemy that is referred to as the "Home Service Assistant" (HSA) or "Search Extender" or "Shopping Wizard" that all lead to a "Looking-For.cc" website with an uninstall (bogus) page to provide them with your email address and instructions to download a "do-nothing" program which, by the way, may very well do more harm than good.     There have been well meaning computer experts, that have provided detailed step-by-step instructions on how to rid your computer system of these three menaces, but in all cases (personally) I have found them very difficult to follow, including re-boot your computer after some initial steps have been performed.     Therefore, with my very limited knowledge of such (virus) areas, I took the advice (as a whole/group) and thought I would try something that many experts may consider a tad radical :     update my XP registry file with some spyware associated entries, one of which was concluded to lack potency against this current virus and then try a HSA program for analyzing my system, deleting infected files and then proceed with further (hard) drive detection and of course, all at my own risk.     "For good measure,"   I invoked some online as well as computer-based software for virus detection, eg, McAffee to confirm that the (computer) system was "clean."     FWIW, the system was (certified) clean.     (It doesn't hurt to have it confirmed, and of course, I checked my installed software list via the Control Panel to confirm the three entries have been removed.)     Now, many of you may not be up to the task at hand and would rather take your computer system to a so-called expert and you may be right -- we are all different and I am "border-line" amateur.     I am sure you are all ready for URL references and by-the-numbers instructions versus this (verbose) presentation.     Cool.     I agree.     As an instructor, though, I feel it is important to give an overview of my personal experience and then lead you to the step-by-step (critical) process. Step-By-Step Process     There are several computer files and programs you will want to download from several terrific computer folks that have taken their time and energy to research and provide solutions for such problems.     There are many spyware-type programs out there that may or may not work and depending on your own personal experience, you may want to bring same to my attention so that I can publish something about that experience for others to benefit from.     In any case, I will be publishing only about the products that worked for me with this "installment." Instructions :   line up the "cross-hair" cursor on the Download reference and click. p.s.   I like his sense of humor, cross-hairs .. (ditto here, buddy) p.p.s.   For XP O/S users only .. sorry.     Now, please note that this registry file provides "protection" against spyware pop-ups now and in the future and is key to your future well-being.     Next, is the HSA (Home Search Hijacker) Removal program.     A program that I (personally) give credit in "doing the job," getting rid of infected files and putting your system back in order.     The author asked for a (small) donation, and I am sure you will agree that it is well worth it !     Click here ->   http://www.hsremove.com/ to download HSRemove.EXE     Now, that you have the three (3) key components, you are ready to update your computer system and hopefully -- say "bye-bye" to (yet) another virus.     1)   Run HSRemove     2)   Unzip and double-click on the spyware registry file     Note:   Step #2 is for XP O/S users only.     3)   Install your trial or purchased version of TuneUp and run the analyze/fix registry function     That's it.     There are other (simple) things you may want to do, as I did (being a "non-believer") and verifying there are no viruses found.     The most important thing is that the three (bad) entries in your XP folder for software install will no longer have them listed and TuneUp will have made the technical fixes to your system registry file.     There are other products to enhance your XP registry and other software products that may be of interest.     Again, in no particular order of importance, here are a few :   AboutBuster     More info.     History ..     CWSServiceRemove.Zip .. yet, another XP registry file update.     Don't worry (so much) about the technical thread, just find the zipfile download and do it !     Another (ShortMedia) thread on same :   click here. "What NOT to do ...", ie, screwing up this (optional) step .. click here.     NOT so sweet revenge...     And, last, but not least -- Tech Support Guys Forum.     .. damn .. what did I ever do before I had the internet to chit-chat with other techi's ???     For more on this topic, click on the above graphic of "ShortMedia Forum."     Warning :   be prepared for a lot of techi-garbage related to their explanation(s).     Disclaimer :   Again, you take all responsibility and can not hold Shop Las Vegas or any of these other software vendors liable for your error(s).     If you didn't notice, my instruction set is three (3) steps :   a)   download the three files   and b)   execute them.     This instruction tutorial is not meant to be all inclusive and neither the various vendors nor Shop Las Vegas solicit technical support assistance.     If you do not know how to work with zip files, or execute, ie, "on-the-fly" EXEs, without having the installation automated for you and producing a desktop icon, you may be "over your head" and should probably seek professional assistance.     A warning to the novice computer user, get assistance from a friend, a professional -- if you do not feel up to running diagnostic utility programs on your computer.     You can do more harm then good when something goes wrong, ie, hard -- even for a pro to fix what you mess up !     In evaluatiing utility products, my desktop looks like this -- please click here.     You want to see the whole thing ?!     Warning .. pretty ugly .. desktop ...     And, of course, that's only the ones that would fit ...     And, (do) come back, from time to time, for some more "free advice."     It is (sure) worth the price.   - Frank / GM @ Shop Las Vegas in (beautiful) Las Vegas, Nevada ! (702) 363 - 3290 >>> Phoenix Shopper Viewers ! (The rest of you -- click on your browser back arrow, or the home icon !   <geez> )