I really must respond to all of you who have made such good suggestions, but I have a mountain of papers to grade, and parent conferences coming up. I am beginning to hate the word "issues". Yes, Ann, not only do the computer people use it, but so does everyone else - especially high school kids. They have issues with me because I am so hard. They have issues because Spanish isn't fun like it was last year. We don't play games. (Do you know how big those 16 year olds are? No, we won't play games and let them run around like some of these kids did in the 7th grade.) How about a pinata --- and bat? Issues and issues. They cheat. They go to the counselor with their issues. I just had to comment on this word. Thanks everyone for the posts. I finally called Cox, and told them that we have the computer, TV's, telephones, and long distance with them. We have a right to computer protection if they advertise that they have it. They said my computer wasn't compatible. I said that it is unless they can find the "incompatability". They finally had me go to Microsoft and upgrade VB files from 5 to 6. Now it is working. I am not thrilled since it isn't great, but it is working for now. I want to write later, but must go. I am worried about Meredith and Joan on the Prairie. Sammy

The US Government uses Norton. I was required to install that on every system that an Air Force contracted company worked with. They would also set up a local update for every week and it was fuly tested before it was released into the local servers. If one of the programs had problems with Norton, the whole company wouldn't be impacted suddenly. In any case, Fidelity Investments also had a special custom made virus scanner program (F Prot) that was updated every week and and sometimes even more often. If you use Windows XP, be sure to download the latest SP3. I don't use Internet Explorer 7, as I feel that version 6 is just fine. Here, I hate I.E. and actually use one of the older Netscape versions, which seem to hate a few web sites. Trojans are a bit less damaging today, if you keep up on Java Script, malware updates and the MS web site for the latest OS software patches. I avoid Vista like a plague! Many newer systems today can't even go back to XP due to the lack of support for older XP drivers and the like. When Vista arrived, it took about 4-6 months for some hardware companies (printers, video boards, etc.) to come out with proper drivers. Usually if you have a choice to 'save to disk' or run after download, you choose save to disk. Create a folder for these downloads and then scan that folder to see if the files that were downloaded are valid and have no traces of possible viruses. Believe it or not, the MAC was the first home computer to get viruses. PC problems came later, but have been much worse in recent years. Luckily, some ISP companies offer free antivirus software, like McAfee. Interesting to note, McAfee, for sveral years, has been owned by Symantec who also make Norton. Maybe someday things will settle down, but you always have to be careful, especially if you see an unfamiliar popup telling you that you have a virus and to 'click here' to find out more info. Thats a sure sign of a mean virus being allowed ont your system. Its always a good idea to make a full back up once each week, and to have at least two backups dating back more than 2 weeks. Today, a terabyte hard drive is less than $100, so many backups can be sent to a huge drive like that.

it does take a little getting used to and letting the program learn, it will pop up and ask you do you want to let such and such connect to the internet you will likely know what is asking because you are trying to use something that needs access so in those cases say yes, if it is something that needs to access it regularly like your antivirus check mark where it says remember this so it does not ask each time. Do not give server rights some things will ask but it is not necessary once you say no to server rights it will next pop up asking for access, that you can allow. If it is something you do not recognize asking then say no and see if you can determine what it is, if you had some type of malware that is trying to phone home you would not want to allow that access. I prefer mine to pop up and ask each time with some of the rarely used stuff I like to know what is connecting. When getting zonealarm or any other free firewall or any program actually be very alert during the install period and uncheck or do not allow the addition of any toolbars or extras, Zone alarm unfortunately now does try to include a toolbar with the free version, you do not want that toolbar. and if you have problems or questions just ask. When something like generic win 32 something ask for permission say yes or you will not be able to connect to the internet, that is one to check mark always allow. Yes as grandms said with cable you have a direct connection and with no router in between you and the internet that even more dictates the use of a software firewall. The benefit of a router with built in hardware firewall is great but I use both on my windows machines, actually my linux has guarddog firewall built into it so I even have one on linux. The link I had provided the main reason I do refer that link is that there are such good instructions and pictures for someone new to firewalls.

Ok let me know how that goes. I am going to need a hijackthis log so I can see what's taking place, It really makes it easier for me to see that and give instructions. And it's real simple to do. Will give direction for that below. Click Here to download HJTInstall.exe · Save HJTInstall.exe to your desktop. · Doubleclick on the HJTInstall.exe icon on your desktop. · By default it will install to C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis . · Click on Install. · It will create a HijackThis icon on the desktop. · Once installed, it will launch Hijackthis. · Click on the Do a system scan and save a logfile button. It will scan and the log should open in notepad. · Click on "Edit > Select All" then click on "Edit > Copy" and Paste the entire contents of the log (no attachments) into your next post. DO NOT use the AnalyzeThis button, its findings are dangerous if misinterpreted. DO NOT have Hijackthis fix anything yet. Most of what HJT lists will be harmless or even required by your Operating System.