DjLizard.net » General

Why are McAfee, Symantec and Norton vilified?

fredvries — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:54:19 +0000

Worldwide there is a tendency in anti-virus forums and anti-spyware forums to complain about the anti-virus products from McAfee, Symantec and Norton.

Why is that, you may ask? Yes, they are bloated, they take almost half a millennium to scan your system and they were about the last products that could flawlessly work with Vista. But then, there are hundreds of crappy or sub-standard products available on the internet and a program like RogueRemover will take on but a few of the worst offenders. So, why do we care?

The root of this problem lies with the fact that these companies have brilliant sales departments. We all know that a good salesman can sell anything to an unwary customer. And there are hardly any more customers unaware than those who reside in the computer procurement departments of large companies and schools. McAfee, Symantec and Norton are pre-installed in virtually every computer that finds its way into your company or school. No problem, no hassle to search and find the best possible anti-virus scanner. No, that problem has already been conveniently solved for them by the seller.

We, the real experts, know better. We like lightning quick scans, as less false positives as possible, an appealing GUI and a responsive staff that will take all our problems seriously.

So, why do we care? We care because we have the best possible anti-virus programs running on our own computers but we have to live daily with these programs that can't meet our own high standards.

It can be regarded as a form of mental torture that, in the end, makes us more mature and resilient. Regard it as a test and also as an ongoing incentive for other companies to keep developing even better anti-virus programs and anti-spyware programs.

And in the end who really cares? It's not our own money that is wasted on these programs.

edit by DjLizard: I'm filing this under Incompetence also :D

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BenQ apologizes for distasteful advert

DjLizard — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 06:41:02 +0000

I posted before about BenQ's use of the WTC wreckage as a background image, and they have since apologized and "put a process in place to prevent this type of incident from happening again". I never went back to the site so I didn't know they had already changed it.

At the time of writing, they have an apology graphic up at http://www.benq.com.cn/musiq/

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WTC wreckage used in BenQ promotion?

DjLizard — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 01:02:39 +0000

http://www.benq.com.cn/musiq/

Compare to:
1
and
2
and
3

I'm going to go with "not good" on this one.

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Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool

fredvries — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 19:46:16 +0000

Every second Tuesday of each month an update of the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool (aka MSRT) is released.

It is a very useful little tool that can detect and remove a growing number of viruses, worms, trojans and rootkits. And the best part of it is that is free. ‘Free?’ I hear you say, ‘from Microsoft?’ And the answer is, perhaps surprisingly, ‘Yes, it is!’

According to Microsoft the tool has been used a staggering 2.7 billion times and in doing so it detected and removed 16 million instances of malware from 5.7 million infected computers. In most cases the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool removed just one single malware variant from a computer but in some cases it has removed dozens and even hundreds of malware variants from computers. This last number can be easily explained by the fact that a backdoor can download lots of other malicious programs.

How do they know, you wonder? Well, just like the error reports you voluntarily should send to Microsoft when your computer experiences a serious problem and has to shut down, the Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool will send a report to Microsoft with just the basic information about the malware it detected and removed. And just like you should never disable the error reporting service, you should never stop this tool from reporting its findings to Microsoft. Both send no identifiable personal info about you or your computer to Microsoft.

Using this information Microsoft recently published a report in which some interesting points are made.

It transpired that instances of an infection dramatically fell after a particular infection was added to the Microsoft Malicious Removal Tool. Some families of malware experienced decreases greater than 75%. Well, they would, wouldn’t they? Because people only use this program if and when their computers were infected.

Microsoft doesn’t make any comments about how it is possible that all that malware wasn’t blocked, detected or removed in the first place by an up-to-date anti-virus and anti-spyware product. Even now, after so much publicity and crashed computers, people are still strangely complacent about their security and privacy.

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TheNotifier v0.0.0.26 (alpha)

DjLizard — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 02:53:13 +0000

NOTE: Do not redistribute TheNotifier. It is for personal testing only.

Download: TheNotifier v0.0.0.26 (~198KB, *.exe)

As explained previously, this is a prototype app I'm working on which will help me (and eventually you) fight certain malware attacks. At the moment, it just allows you look at what's going on.

As always, comment here, or post at the "Lunarsoft.net DjLizard.net software support forum" (preferred).

Changelog:

* Moved to tabbed interface
* Added more specific filtering functions (None, known, or Microsoft)
* Added AppInit_DLLs tab with basic support (very alpha) – more to come
* 'Jump to key' when on the AppInit_DLLs tab will take you to the 'Windows' key (where AppInit_DLLs is)
* Added the following known-good Notify entries: avldr, Caveo, ckpNotify, Command AntiVirus Download, ComPlusSetup, CwWLEvent, dimsntfy, DPWLN, FolderGuard, GoToMyPC, loginkey, MetaFrame, nwprovau, OPXGina, PCANotify, PFW, ppeclt, PRISMAPI.DLL, PRISMGNA.DLL, psfus, QConGina, RAinit, RegCompact, SABWinLogon, SDNotify, Sebring, T3Notify, TabBtnWL, Timbuktu Pro, tpfnf2, tpgwlnotify, tphotkey, VESWinlogon, WB, WBSrv, Zboard, zsnotify

I have a list of many known-good AppInit_DLLs so you don't have to let me know about those yet.

Also, I have a lot of work left on DAF before I can release another update, so don't worry.

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MSHTML.DLL

DjLizard — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 02:56:49 +0000

It's patch tuesday – a bunch of fixes came out. Visit Windows Update to get them, or wait for them to be downloaded with idle network bandwidth, by BITS.

I haven't been paying attention lately (I've been quite busy) but a new version of MSHTML.DLL is out – 6.00.2900.2912. It can't be registered (at all), thankfully. The previous version, .2838, was not supposed to be registerable either, but Microsoft broke it. This time, it spits out an error code (specifically, hex 0x80029c4a / decimal -2147312566: TYPE_E_CANTLOADLIBRARY). Dial-a-fix v0.58 (which is pretty close to being v0.60) recognizes certain versions of files now, and ignores the ones it knows it can't register. I'll have a new public beta soon, I think. I've got to do some more private testing first (I've made a truckload of changes since the last public beta).

edit: Wait, the one on my dev machine is 6.0.2900.2912, and it DOES register. Something's not right here!

edit 2: Ok, I found out what the problem is. A rogue program removed mshtml.tlb because it thought it was no longer being used. WTF! Ugh, 3rd party software. This post has been rendered invalid. At least I have something to check for with Dial-a-fix now…

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Digital Doctors

DjLizard — Fri, 26 May 2006 03:46:09 +0000

I work for Digital Doctors. The tech manager and I just converted our website from a static Dreamweaver HTML-uncompliant mess to a brand spankin' new WordPress site, and the result is outstanding. The look is finally consistent, it's easy to edit, it's 100 times faster than the old site, standards compliant, dynamic, and easy for search engines to spider. I will also be writing articles for it for our current and future customers — so they will not be as technical as the articles I post here.

Anyway, if you live in Bradenton, Sarasota (or anywhere else in Manatee/Sarasota county) Florida, you can bring your computer to our shop and I will work on it! If you live in Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, you can call and one of our skilled technicians can come to you.

Our labor rates are not the highest, and not the lowest, but there's no other computer repair facility in a 50 mile radius that can do what we do – we are the best, most fair shop at which I've ever had the pleasure of working. Most repairs are 1 to 1½ hours, but we have a max labor rate of 2 hours — no matter how many things we do, the most you will ever be charged for is 2 hours of labor (plus parts, if applicable). We're also able to work on smaller things in quarter-hour increments. Give us a call for current labor rates.

Digital Doctors
7333 52nd Place East,
Bradenton, FL 34203
1-941-747-9477 Sarasota/Manatee (ask for Mike if you want to talk to me!)
1-727-541-4410 Pinellas
1-813-932-4500 Tampa

Here's a Yahoo! map of our location.

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Google advanced operators

DjLizard — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 03:34:51 +0000

Fred pointed out this nice guide to Google's advanced operators. I knew less than half of the operators. (I only knew about several of the [all/]in* ones).

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Dial-a-fix v0.54 beta released

DjLizard — Thu, 17 Nov 2005 17:24:26 +0000

DAF v0.54 is ready.
* Changed default behavior of Windows Installer checkmarks (2.0 and 3.0): they are now unchecked by default
* Windows Installer 2.0 checkmark will disable all other checkmarks for safety purposes (because you must reboot after installing it)
* Removed a few command-line switches from the XML parser installers; they should run silently on all platforms again
* DAF now stops BITS when doing 'Flush SoftwareDistribution', and the status bar is more descriptive about the process
* DAF now stops BITS, WUAUSERV, and CRYPTSVC when deleting Catroot2 (just in case), and the status bar is more descriptive as well
* Minor dialog adjustments, and the addition of a Paypal donation link to the contact pane

In the next version, I hope to add a new pane which fixes network connectivity issues (thanks for reminding me of that, Fred). I have to give Fred shout-outs because he seems to be the biggest Dial-a-fix fan. :P

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Paypal donation system open

DjLizard — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 23:01:08 +0000

I have set up a Paypal donation system. Use it if you enjoyed my crappy site or Dial-a-fix or something. I have pretty big credit card debt, so start emptying your wallets.

|
v

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Well, it does!

DjLizard — Tue, 08 Nov 2005 02:39:44 +0000

http://ebaumsworldsucks.com/

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Forum

DjLizard — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 20:06:04 +0000

Yes, my forum is gone.

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LOL – The Movie

DjLizard — Wed, 07 Sep 2005 03:38:16 +0000

It doesn't get any worse. Make it stop.

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Re: prefetch

DjLizard — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 05:29:41 +0000

http://blogs.msdn.com/ryanmy/archive/2005/05/25/421882.aspx

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Stuff

DjLizard — Sat, 13 Aug 2005 23:40:48 +0000

I took this test and scored:

English Genius
You scored 100% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 100% Advanced, and 100% Expert!

Not that it's a big surprise. The test is pretty easy if you paid attention in the 3rd grade. Oh, you didn't? Pump my gas.

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Tangent 2

DjLizard — Fri, 12 Aug 2005 16:23:02 +0000

It's pretty hard to get time to work on this site when I'm so busy fixing unfixable computers. Norton Internet Security (actually, all Symantec/Norton) products are hereby boycotted.

I've never seen such a lousy setup in all of my life. Their products can barely hold themselves together in a standalone installation, let alone integration with other Symantec/Norton products. Remember when Norton Utilities used to be awesome? (I'm talking about the DOS 6.22 days, when everything worked properly and software that glitched up was actually surprising) There will be no discussion of those products on this website any further.

I've also quit visiting the CCleaner forums. (Don't even ask me about it, unless you like to banned at the IP level from this site.)

EDIT>> That was kind of nice how they gave me a farewell. I lied about not going back, I really did want to see what they'd say ;) That was even pretty cool how Eldmannen said he'd miss me. ANYWAY… I'm working with Tarun to get his site up [hooked him up with lunarsoft.net and ToastyX, who hosts THIS site ;)] I hope to get the shoutbox up soon. Or a small message board that doesn't require registering, or something. I dunno, I'll look around.

I'm tired of bad grammar. Worse than that, I'm tired of bad grammar rules. Why is it again that I am supposed to put punctuation inside of a quotation? Oh, so that way the quotation is no longer exactly accurate? If I quote someone and they didn't have a period in their quote, it's going outside the quotation marks, damn it.

Example:

Click Start, click Run, and then type "notepad."

Therefore, on this site, I obey only those grammar rules that make sense. I will also obey grammar rules that I have personally deemed accurate. Don't even get me started about ending sentences in prepositions, because there's no point to that so-called rule at all. If you look it up, it turns out it's not really a rule at all, but just one man's doctrine. He tried to convince everyone that they were doing it all wrong. I think he succeeded in duping the masses, but I am not so easily fooled.

That is the sort of grammar up with which I cannot put.

I don't want to bring back a forum (yet(?)) but I'm going to try to put a live (no refreshing required!) shoutbox in soon, so at least people can leave messages to each other. This should work well, except for spammers, so I'll have to look out for that. I hate nothing more than someone advertising their site on my site without any sort of permission.

I'm sick of the MUD already (too buggy, unfinished), so for all those who want to play something good, they should probably check out EUO. I made the installer. ^_^
Our MUD is gone now. People actually liked the BBS door games, but alas, they are for DOS and they destroy my machine (thanks, NTVDM). PS: don't reply to this with ways to make it work, I don't care about the door games anymore.

It seems that all mmorpg servers that are available for download are either pieces of crap, or are only for Windows (who wants to run an mmorpg server via WINDOWS?!). I haven't found anything good yet. Wishing now that I could run a private EUO server.

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Birthday

DjLizard — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 16:32:33 +0000

Oh yeah, I'm 24 today.

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Tangent 1

DjLizard — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 03:57:01 +0000

I'm sure everybody's heard of the Mighty Mouse by now. Pop culture and pop tech news travels fast around here. I usually hear the same news four to seven times a day, every day, my entire life. If you ever see me parrot some stupid news that everybody knows by now, such as the aforementioned Mighty Mouse, then you can rest assured that I did it so that people would notice and stop telling me about it. ;)

Apple's marketing department is talented. I love the way the Apple website looks and feels, and the way they structure everything. That was a trip when their site went black while Tiger was getting ready for release.

I feel so paranoid.

Thanks to Tarun for the heads up on this site: XP SP3
Nice. Too bad the site has creepy Google ads (notice I dropped them) that always try to sell you spyware and crap. Yeah, get these registry cleaners that do more harm than good. Google, why must you only peddle junk software that tends towards scams and spyware? I never really see actual good software listed there. Ever. Stupid asses. Over the years, Windows has hardened itself against the number one threat to Windows stability that has ever existed: every thread or process that could ever exist that was not originally installed by your Windows installation media. That's right, you third party imbeciles, stop making crappy software.

DjLizard> did you miss me
DjLizard> or did you nearly hit me
ToastyX> I missed you, I missed you, now I have to kiss you
ToastyX> OHHHHHHHHHHHHH I GET IT NOW

This just in… http://www.start.com/1/ http://www.start.com/2/ http://www.start.com/3/ (and of course http://www.google.com/ig)

// 2005/08/03 —–

Newhotness asks:

not sure if you know or not, but is the mighty mouse only usable on a mac? and if not, is there any benefit to using it on an XP comp?

It works on PC as well. The USB Device Class Definition for Human Interface Devices (HID) (defined by the USB Implementers Forum, Inc.), contains universal implementations of mice, keyboards, pen/tablet, and other input devices that modern operating systems perfectly understand (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux kernel 2.6, etc.). You can plug a Windows mouse into a Mac or a Mac mouse into Windows (give or take features and drawbacks). I prefer using my imfamous Logitech Wheel Mouse Optical (Blue) on my Apple Powerbook G4. I have three Optical Blues, my mom and dad have one, and even ToastyX has a Blue. (Part # 830386-0000)
Using the previous Mac mouse in Windows really sucks… it only has one button (well, its entire body is the button), and no scroll wheel. It's like a cro-magnon mouse. Unga, me click-*pound*.

Using the Logitech Blue on that is excellent – scroll wheel is detected and used, second button performs command+clicking, which is exactly the same as right-clicking in Windows. Using this new mouse in Windows should prove interesting… 360-degree scroll ball. What if I don't want to scroll sort of sideways while I'm scrolling up and down?

Yes, USB keyboards are HID-compliant as well. Logitech's keyboards are sometimes printed with both Mac and Windows meta-key symbols/names, making them that much more attractive in the marketplace. Too bad I've always hated Logitech (and Microsoft) keyboards… suckers. I use an IBM Model "M" keyboard (no, not buckling spring version (the rubber dome version). I'm not into giving my fingers more of a workout than they already get when going 120 words per minute).

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:P

DjLizard — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 16:56:17 +0000

July 21st, 2005: Microsoft patents emoticons.

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IT'S the END of the FILM as we KNOW it

DjLizard — Sat, 02 Jul 2005 02:38:15 +0000

DP, Bradenton, FL

Tonight, mass hysteria and panic swept this tiny town, leaving dozens badly bruised, one with a severe neck injury, and several people trampled as concerned citizens flocked to their cars to get the hell out of the confined theater.

War of the Worlds was over.

The theater was packed, and all two year-olds were present, willing, and whining. Sources say someone wouldn't stop farting. Another was badly injured after being mauled for applauding at the end of the movie.

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