Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2016 February 10

Criticism_of_Microsoft_Windows#Data_collection describes the reasons why users would want to prevent the Advertising ID from being transmitted. Similarly, Do Not Track lists the advantages for opting out from that. Is there any reason for a normal user to keep those set to the default? Microsoft User 2016 (talk) 14:55, 10 February 2016 (UTC)

:It would benefit me and benefit the advertisers if they could stop serving me adds for things I will never buy. Alas, it often works the other way; someone searches for car insurance or a new PC, makes their decision and buys the product, and then gets bombarded with ads for the thing they already bought for the next year or two. --Guy Macon (talk) 15:15, 10 February 2016 (UTC)

:::It could be worse: Our neighborhood beautification group wanted to buy some dog-poop cleanup stations for the neighborhood - I did a search to see what they cost (I wasn't going to be buying them) - and for a month afterwards got nothing but adverts relating to dog poo. Just wonderful! SteveBaker (talk) 18:45, 10 February 2016 (UTC)

:: Thank you, that makes sense for the Advertising ID. What about Do Not Track? --Microsoft User 2016 (talk) 15:27, 10 February 2016 (UTC)

:::The really annoying advertisers ignore Do Not Track, but it doesn't hurt to turn it on. I suggest that you use Privacy Badger, which makes it really hard for anyone to track you. --Guy Macon (talk) 16:02, 10 February 2016 (UTC)

:::: Thank you. Privacy Badger doesn't work for Edge or IE, so it seems I'd have to change the browser, too. --Microsoft User 2016 (talk) 16:55, 10 February 2016 (UTC)

I am currently using a 2009 Gateway NV78 laptop running Windows 7. I have resorted twice since last November to reinstalling from the installation disks. I have basically run into three repeating issues:

:I cannot install AVG antivirus past 92%. I have used it for years, but since my last reset this January, I have not been able to reinstall the 2016 or 2015 version.

:Firefox freezes up, and takes forever to run, if ever it does run. Using it has resulted in two bluescreen errors in January, and a reinstall from restore disks. I currently have Firefox uninstalled.

:Even after uninstalling every antivirus program I can with ComputerCleaner, I cannot get Windows Defender to work or stay activated. (I get an error message saying it is turned of, and if I try to turn it on I am lucky if the computer doesn't freeze.)

I am wondering if these three issues might be related? I was able to make and run an updated off line disk for Windows Defender. It works and finds no malware. But I can't restore AVG or a working version of Firefox at all. I find Chrome tedious and refuse to go back to it. I would like Firefox, but have no problems with IE. But I am very concerned that I have no working antivirus, and would really like to get AVG or an equivalent free program back.

Can anyone at least suggest a good downloadable free antivirus program, or suggest what might be wrong with my AVG downloads is?

I have gotten a certificate invalid with timestamp error on occasion, but my computer shows the correct time and date for my EST timezone. Thanks for any help. μηδείς (talk) 20:40, 10 February 2016 (UTC)

::You could try Avast or Avira they seem to get decent writeups on the tech sites. I personally stick to the MSSE. 6 years for a windows laptop is a pretty decent run, I'd consider upgrading if I were you. Vespine (talk) 00:24, 11 February 2016 (UTC)

::You could also download free Malwarebytes and Spybot – Search & Destroy for extra checks that you don't have some sort of malware. This answer typed on an eight-year-old laptop. Dbfirs 11:15, 11 February 2016 (UTC)

:::Thanks, I was already recommended Avast and I'll try the rest. 20:30, 11 February 2016 (UTC)

::::I have several installed, but keep just one running for protection. I run the others as a one-off check if I think something is wrong or if I've accidentally clicked on something risky. Dbfirs 00:20, 12 February 2016 (UTC)