Patricia, it was my understanding that Windows Defender would not work if you have another anti-virus program, which you obviously have.  That and One Drive does not have icons on my screen so I don't worry about them.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, You don't need an icon for OneDrive, the same as Notebook or Snipping Tool for example unless you want a separate shortcut on your screen or taskbar that you place yourself. And you are partially right about Windows Defender not working if you have another antivirus program.

The problem is this, each time you have an update, it attempts to start up.
Also, and it tells you right in the product description in settings, it will periodically turn itself back on and cause a disruption with your other working antivirus program.

I have used System Mechanic by IOLO since 2000 and I have used Hitman Pro as a second opinion antivirus program for the last three years. Its recommended to use a second opinion for the way things are now. Many people use Malwarebytes with their regular antivirus.

For example, a security company found forty apps in Google's store that had hidden pups and viruses and Microsoft store showed slightly higher this year. Google has since fixed the loopholes and Microsoft says they're working on it. Many people are very random and not thinking in how or what they download.

I do not worry or care about these programs I don't use, except when there is a major W10 update. Then I always go to settings and make sure Windows Defender is still turned off completely or I go down the list and turn off the parts that come on with a new update.

Shirley,
OneDrive can be useful as an additional backup system for your data. I have my photos and documents backed up to OneDrive, which means they are stored both on my computer and the OneDrive cloud system. The back-up is always up-to-date, so if my computer died and I hadn't done a recent back-up onto some other format my photos and docs would be safe and nothing lost. I also have the OneDrive app on my iPad and iPhone, so I can also access my same photos and documents from both of them when away from my main computer.

I found out when my old computer died that all the information on One Drive died with that computer. The files were lost and not retrievable and not on any separate cloud. Now if I had also put them on an iPad or iPhone perhaps I could retrieve them from those devices. For that reason, I do not recommend One Drive. here are others such as Amazon Cloud or Dropbox that are available from other devices with your password. Or simply use an external hard drive.

From the tech site, Ask Leo;

"Let's run down a few terms.

Malware

The most important term to know is malware, which is short for malicious software.

The name says it all: malware is any software that has malicious intent â€" destroy data, send spam, hold your data for ransom, steal your information â€" it doesn't matter. It's all malicious, it's all software; thus, it's all malware.

You'll find malware used as a catch-all term for all flavors and varieties of software that intend some kind of harm.

Virus

In the human body, a virus is an organism that replicates, or makes copies of, itself and overwhelms the body's defenses, making it sick.

When applied to computers, the term "virus" is very similar.

A computer virus replicates itself in some way so as to spread within the computer, usually injecting itself into other programs within the computer.
A computer virus makes the infected computer "sick". In the computer sense, "sick" can mean poor performance, crashes, lost files and data, or more.
Very technically, the term virus does not necessarily imply that a piece of malicious software will replicate itself to other systems. In general use, it's assumed.

Spyware

Spyware is a type of malicious software intended not to do damage, but to collect information, or "spy", on you. Spyware might monitor and report back on your browsing habits and the programs you run, or access and send other information stored on your machine. One canonical form of spyware is the keystroke logger, which, as its name implies, records your keystrokes (and often more) and uploads this information to a third party.

Worm

A worm is a program that replicates itself to other computers. It does so by infecting media, such as USB drives, that make contact with multiple systems, transmitting itself over a network somehow, or otherwise copying itself from one computer to another.

Very technically, again, the term worm does not necessarily imply malicious intent or behavior, other than the replication. In practice, malicious intent is generally assumed.

Trojan Horse

A Trojan horse â€" often just a "trojan" â€" is a program that claims to be one thing but is, in fact, another. It uses that deception to gain access to a system that would not be given, were the true intent known.

A trojan horse is not a virus per se, but it may carry them. For example, there are trojans that claim to be patches for various problems, but instead (or in addition) install malware. Software obtained from many download sites is often a type of trojan, using the promise of the software that is desired to install additional malicious software that is not.
Phishing

I think of phishing as a kind of email-based trojan horse. It's email that looks like it comes from some official site, such as your bank, PayPal, or eBay, but actually comes from someone pretending to be them. They typically use some technique to fool you into thinking they are an official site of some sort, so you hand over sensitive information, like your username and password. Once you do so, they steal your other information, often leading to hacked accounts, identity theft, or worse."

I have lost the use of all my usb ports. Can someone suggest a quick fix or should I take my pc to the hospital?

Don,

Did you try a full shutdown and a restart?

Anything new added to a USB port just prior to the problem?

Can you use a port to charge a phone?

What OS are you using? (xp-7-10)?

Don has Win10 and he did shut down and restart.

I think Windows 10 recently did a major upgrade again. I had to reset some of my settings because of it, but don't seem to have any problems otherwise. I assume that Don has had Windows 10 for a while, but maybe one of these fixes will help.  The Universal Serial Bus  controller may have become corrupted and needs updated/reinstalled. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-update/lost-usb-ports/31280148-008d-49c9-84a4-eb4b8a159516

https://blog.knowbe4.com/windows-10-stops-ransomware-cold-not-so-fast?knowbe4-windows10s=&ad_id=505107&share-ad-id=1

"Recently, Microsoft claimed that no known ransomware could penetrate the new Win10 Creators Update.

Presenting new anti-ransomware protection features added in Win 10 CU, Robert Lefferts, Director of Program Management, Windows Enterprise and Security, said that no Windows 10 customer was affected by the recent WannaCry ransomware outbreak that took place in mid-May and no currently known ransomware strain can infect Windows 10.

ZDNet decided to not listen, but look for themselves. They hired a pro hacker and wanted to see if such a bold claim would hold up.

Spoiler alert: It didn't. "It's the macros, stupid!"


They hired Matthew Hickey, a security researcher and co-founder of cybersecurity firm Hacker House, and asked him a simple enough question: Will ransomware install on this operating system?

It took him a little over three hours to bust the operating system's various layers of security, but he got there.

Cracking Windows 10 S was a tougher task than expected, but one common attack point exists. Hickey was able to exploit how Microsoft Word, available to download from the Windows app store, handles and processes macros.

Hickey created a malicious, macro-based Word document on his own computer that when opened would allow him to carry out a reflective DLL injection attack, allowing him to bypass the app store restrictions by injecting code into an existing, authorized process."

best malware removal tools

http://www.itpro.co.uk/security/malware/28083/the-five-best-free-malware-removal-tools

I recently had a warning from my 15-inch laptop that the hard drive was failing. This laptop still had three months left on the warranty so I was somewhat surprised and called the repair line. I had two solutions for the laptop under warranty as it had not been dropped, nor had anything been dropped on it or liquid spilt. I could print out an email sent label, find my own box and return it to the company for fixing or I could pay out of pocket, 39.99 for a local tech, contracted by Dell to receive a hard drive sent by the company and installed by that tech as I had not wanted to attempt it myself.

After the helpful tech had installed the new hard drive, I restarted windows ten and only had downloaded Chrome and my antivirus. My antivirus located and listed six Trojans in system 32. I emailed Dell who asked me to reboot and reinstall. I did so even though my antivirus said they were quarantined.  But it shows you why you need to be careful and pay attention as this hard drive, direct from the manufacturer, was already corrupt.

While I have used my main antivirus since 2000 and I also use a second opinion antivirus program, both of which are on yearly subscriptions. they do have free versions available. An interesting idea is to list the free programs that are highly rated against some of the paid programs which will probably surprise you. For example, last time I checked, Windows Defender was listed at number eight or lower and under some free programs. But I do realize it is convenient. Another good idea is to take a periodic look at your antivirus and see if its ranking has slipped or changed. Do not go by the manufacturer's websites but by various well-respected sites that will give an honest portrayal.

Quote from: angelface555 on July 19, 2017, 01:51:47 PM
.........
........ But it shows you why you need to be careful and pay attention as this hard drive, direct from the manufacturer, was already corrupt.

Sounds like they sent you a drive they took out of another puter. Maybe one that was sent back because it didn't work right. 

I think so, Rick! Probably because I didn't want to send it in so they had to recruit someone local. And here it is still under warranty.

Help me, please, with a new-to-me term.   In computer talk, what, exactly, is a "meme" and how is the word pronounced?

Callie, I didn't know either so I looked it up.

"meme
/mÄ"m/

noun

    1. an element of a culture or system of behavior that may be considered to be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, especially imitation."

I'm still not sure I know what it means .

Mary

Here is an example of a meme.

[attachimg=1]

Here is one more;

[attachimg=1]

So... any time you send someone a link to or a copy/paste of some philosophical/inspirational/patriotic/etc.  comment - or post a "share" (as on Facebook), you're using a "meme"?





   

No. A meme is a saying, a joke, sarcasm or a flippant remark made off the cuff or in answer to a comment or question. It is not a link or a share. or at least, not normally.

Got it!  Thanks.

Rick, this is what Dell sent in regards to the warrantied hard drive and Trojans. so se le vie...

"We agree that a new hard drive should not have such trojans, however we are not certain if those were a part of the hard drive when we sent you. We assure you that all Dell parts including the hard drives go through detailed Quality Testing before being sent to our customer's. In case of a hard drive being sent, we also ensure that we include an image of the Operating System on it and hence could not confirm if the trojans were a part of the image. We however do not take such instances lightly and assure you we will check into your concerns from our end.

In the meantime, if you need any other assistance, please feel free to respond to our email and I assure you of a prompt response.

Your experience with Dell is of utmost importance and priority to us. "

That reminds me of the joke about the Motel that sent out a "Bug Letter".

Big company "Service" seems to be somewhat of a joke.  My HP Laptop went back to them three times, each after spending hours working with their on line "experts". After that it still failed. I'm sure they didn't make any money on that sale.  They paid for the shipping both ways three times.  I eventually found the fix on line.  Had to add a program file that was actually a HP created file.

Sounds about right...I had a Gateway in 2000 that would work for awhile before having the same issues. Gateway, after much sending it back and forth, said I was obviously doing something and took it off warranty. Local techs took a look and said it was the wrong type of part for that computer. Each time Gateway sent me a new one, it was to factory specs. ensuring that I received the wrong part each time.

The local techs fixed it, also adding a second internal hard drive, and it lasted for eight years, I only replaced it because it wasn't able to take the newer programs.

Possibly the same experience.  I purchased a Gateway DX4840 Jan 2011.  Liked the machine but had issues with it the first week.  Spent loads of time with support and not corrected.   I packed it up, took it back to Best Buy, they accepted it and asked what other computer I might want.  My son and the sales person knew I liked the Gateway and suggested I try another new one.   I took delivery and have been very happy with it for over six years. Wonder if my old one was ever "refurbished" and sold to someone else, and if it still had the glitch.   

Jack, I wouldn't doubt it.

There was a store down in CA <will not tell which one> that when you returned an item that did not work, they would just re package it and sell it again.  True story.

I don't doubt it. One well-known electronics store had a salesman in the computer section who tried to sell me a "modem" as a wifi router back in the day when they were separate. I'm sure he thought the old lady didn't know squat.  When he finally asked another salesman, he was sent to the right item!

I've just had a "dispute" with my local ISP.  My internet/wifi kept dropping. I called...got someone who didn't speak English well (surprise, Huh!) and she said my connections were all good and I needed to take my laptop to a computer store to be fixed.  Uh..that would be NO.  I get SO tired of all the tech problems being always at our end!  I completed their survey a day later and was honest. I got a call from a Supervisor who did speak American English and she said to disconnect the modem-router and reconnect. That it may not have gotten the latest firmware.  Yep...solved the problem.  She told me to disconnect it once a week and replug in then to make sure it looked for the latest firmware updates.  No idea why India/Malayasia/Philippines "support" person didn't suggest that.  [I had, in fact, done that after hanging up on woman #1, and told Supervisor that.  I did it again after speaking with her. No problems since.]

When I took my Gateway into some local techs back in 2000 after my poor experience with Gateway, a rather acerbic tech there told me not to put much stock in online help as the majority were hired with no computer experience, given perhaps three days of testing and indoctrination, then set at the phones with a number of pages dealing with basic computer issues and solutions.

If they can't help or their supervisor can't help, they either try to sell you paid help referrals or send you further up the chain on your time or dime. I do not see any returned part or machine not being resold but at least most will "refurbish" that piece.

It pays to be aware.