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General discussion

Notebook running sluggish; could it be spyware or what?

by Big Steve Aug 11, 2006 11:44AM PDT

I've been using a new Dell Inspiron 1300 notebook since May 2006. It has anti-virus software installed called Panda Platinum 2006 which is automatically updated every night and I've had no problems with using this notebook computer until last night.

Beginning last night while surfing the web the notebook would suddenly hang up; the hour glass would appear on the screen and just stay there. I'd have to shut the notebook down and do a restart to get the computer to working again. Panda just finished a scan of the entire computer and detected nothing; no viruses; no security threats.

My old WIN 95 desktop computer would do this a lot; I'd have to shut everything down then do a restart. This Dell notebook is too new to start having problems like this I would think wouldn't it?

What could be causing this Dell notebook to act this way? It wouldn't be spyware I don't think because Panda gives me a report each night of everything that it blocks. Feedback from anybody?


Big Steve
Biloxi, Mississippi
08/11/06

Discussion is locked

5 Posts
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Since AV is not enough tell us what FIREWALL and...
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 11, 2006 11:57AM PDT

Pest control software such as EWIDO you use.

Bob

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Re: Since AV is not enough tell us what FIREWALL and......
by Big Steve Aug 11, 2006 12:46PM PDT

My brother's IT guy bought the Dell Inspiron 1300 notebook for me to use although my brother lives in Texas. He also bought me a Dell Dimension 3100 desktop PC which is set up in a back bedroom which I seldom use. This is my first notebook which is also being used wirelessly; that's the only way to go.

My brother's IT guy recommended installing the Panda Platinum 2006 AV software verses anything sold by Norton and I have been very impressed with the Panda software so far.

The Panda software also has it's own firewall which my brother's IT guy has set to "enabled" but the firewall with Windows Home XP has been "disabled". EWIDO means what? Pest control software also means what? Spyware protection? Please explain if you would.


Big Steve
Biloxi, Mississippi
08/11/06

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Type EWIDO into google.com and scan with that.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 11, 2006 1:35PM PDT

Since you have the AV and FIREWALL covered, you'll want to do the SPYWARE scan with EWIDO.

Bob.

PS. Words in all capitals are keywords for google or other search engines.

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Re: Type EWIDO into google.com and scan with that.
by Big Steve Aug 11, 2006 2:28PM PDT

I did as you advised and went to Google and typed in the word EWIDO in the search field then hit enter and was taken to a page listing numerous links to EWIDO.

I then clicked on a link which took me directly to EWIDO and attempted to download EWIDO to scan my computer but as soon as I attempted to start the scan I received a pop up telling me to download Active-X.

I decided not to download Active-X until first coming back to this forum to ask if such was considered to be safe first. What is Active-X and why do I need to download it before I can use the spyware scanner at EWIDO? Advise whenever you can.


Big Steve
Biloxi, Mississippi
08/11/06

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My ewido download did not require Active X.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Aug 11, 2006 2:41PM PDT
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