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generally, do you guys have a better opinion of Norton or Bitdefender? i'm a longtime Norton guy, but my subscription is about to expire, and i've heard great things about Bitdefender lately. BUT i tried contacting customer service and it was a complete nightmare. so i'm leaning on sticking with Norton, but... just wanted to hear some opinions from people who might've used both.

guys, so this is what happened.. a couple of days ago, strange ads started to appear in my browser.I found lots of information in google (it turned out to be from a thing called Plus HD.) and folowed a removal guide (i used this one, if it's at any importance http://www.xp-vista.com/spyware-removal/plus-hd-removal-guide ) and i did all the steps. And I think it's gone now, but the article says to use an antivirus program. the one they suggest is unknown to me and i really don't think it's necessary.. What do you guys think? should i use one, or is my problem solved already? and also is http://www.malwarebytes.org a good choice?

Hi guys, my pc has been really laggy lately and i dont understand why? it lags in video games and when im on my homescreen and when im doing anything really. I do have Bullguard antivirus. and not much programs,i thought i had and ok pc... and i also ran Norton PC Checkup and it found nothing. Here are my specs: -------------------------------------- Summary -------------------------------------- Computer Brand Name: HP-Pavilion BT437AA-ABA s5623w Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) Build 7601 Service Pack: Service Pack 1 Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 840 (3200.0 MHz) Motherboard: PEGATRON CORPORATION NARRA5 (nVidia nForce 6100-405/430) Memory: 3 GBytes (Dual-Channel) Hard Drive: Seagate ST3320418AS (305,245 MBytes (320 GB)) Optical Drive: hp DVD-RAM GH60L (DVD+R DL) Display Adapter: EVGA e-GeForce GT 430 Audio Adapter: nVIDIA MCP61 - High Definition Audio Controller nVIDIA GF108 - High Definition Audio Controller Network Adapter: Belkin USB Wireless Adaptor Monitor: Hewlett-Packard [unknown Model: HWP292F] -------------------------------------- Processor -------------------------------------- CPU ID: 00100F53 Extended CPU ID: 00100F53 Code Name: Propus CPU Stepping: BL-C3 CPU Platform: Socket AM2r2 Microcode Update Revision: 10000AF Core(s): 4 Thread(s): 4 Original Frequency: 3200.0 MHz Current Frequency: 3214.7 MHz = 16.00 x 200.9 MHz @ 1.3750 V CPU Core Temperature: N/A L1 Cache: Instruction: 4 x 64 KBytes, Data: 4 x 64 KBytes L2 Cache: Integrated: 4 x 512 KBytes CPU Thermal Design Power: 95.0 W CPU Thermal Design Current: 76.0 A -------------------------------------- Motherboard -------------------------------------- Model: PEGATRON CORPORATION NARRA5 Chipset: nVidia nForce 6100-405/430 Slots: 1xPCI, 2xPCI Express x1, 1xPCI Express x16 PCI Express Version Supported: v1.0 USB Version Supported: v2.0 Super IO/LPC Chip: Fintek A8000B BIOS Manufacturer: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG BIOS Date: 05/20/10 BIOS Version: 5.59 -------------------------------------- Memory -------------------------------------- Module Number: 0 Module Size: 1024 MBytes Memory Type: DDR2-SDRAM Memory Speed: 400.0 MHz (PC2-6400) Module Manufacturer: Kingston Error Check/Correction: None Number Of Banks: 8 Number Of Ranks: 1 Supported CAS Latencies: 6.0, 5.0, 4.0 Min. RAS-to-CAS Delay: 15.00 ns Min. Row Precharge Time: 15.00 ns Min. RAS Pulse Width: 45 ns Supported Module Timing at 400.0 MHz: 6.0-6-6-18 Supported Module Timing at 333.3 MHz: 5.0-5-5-15 Supported Module Timing at 266.7 MHz: 4.0-4-4-12 Min. Row-Activate To Row-Activate Delay: 7.50 ns Write Recovery Time: 15.00 ns Internal write to read command delay: 7.50 ns Internal read to precharge command delay: 7.50 ns Minimum Activate to Activate/Refresh Time: 60.00 ns Minimum Refresh to Activate/Refresh Command Period: 127.50 ns Address and Command Setup Time Before Clock: 0.17 ns Address and Command Setup Time After Clock: 0.25 ns Data Input Setup Time Before Strobe: 0.05 ns Data Input Setup Time After Strobe: 0.12 ns Module Number: 1 Module Size: 2048 MBytes Memory Type: DDR2-SDRAM Memory Speed: 400.0 MHz (PC2-6400) Module Manufacturer: Micron Tech. Error Check/Correction: None Number Of Banks: 8 Number Of Ranks: 2 Supported CAS Latencies: 6.0, 5.0, 4.0 Min. RAS-to-CAS Delay: 15.00 ns Min. Row Precharge Time: 15.00 ns Min. RAS Pulse Width: 45 ns Supported Module Timing at 400.0 MHz: 6.0-6-6-18 Supported Module Timing at 333.3 MHz: 5.0-5-5-15 Supported Module Timing at 266.7 MHz: 4.0-4-4-12 Min. Row-Activate To Row-Activate Delay: 7.50 ns Write Recovery Time: 15.00 ns Internal write to read command delay: 7.50 ns Internal read to precharge command delay: 7.50 ns Minimum Activate to Activate/Refresh Time: 60.00 ns Minimum Refresh to Activate/Refresh Command Period: 127.50 ns Address and Command Setup Time Before Clock: 0.17 ns Address and Command Setup Time After Clock: 0.25 ns Data Input Setup Time Before Strobe: 0.05 ns Data Input Setup Time After Strobe: 0.12 ns -------------------------------------- Hard Drive -------------------------------------- Drive Model: Seagate ST3320418AS Drive Controller: Serial ATA 3Gb/s Drive Serial Number: 9VMKPJZ0 Firmware Revision: HP35 Drive Capacity: 305,245 MBytes (320 GB) Media Rotation Rate: 7200 RPM Temperature: N/A Cache Buffer Size: 16384 KBytes Number of Cylinders: 16383 Number of Heads: 16 Number of Sectors: Unknown Sectors Per Track: 63 Native Command Queuing: Supported, Max. Depth: 32 TRIM Command: Not Supported Write Cache: Present, Active S.M.A.R.T. Feature: Present, Active Security Feature: Present, Inactive Removable Media Feature: Not Present, Disabled Power Management: Present, Active Advanced Power Management: Not Present, Inactive Packet Interface: Not Present, Disabled Look-Ahead Buffer: Present, Active Host Protected Area: Not Present, Disabled Power-Up In Standby: Not Supported, Inactive Automatic Acoustic Management: Not Supported, Inactive 48-bit LBA: Supported, Active Raw Read Error Rate: 119/6, Worst: 99 (Data = 228223807) Reallocated Sector Count: 100/36, Worst: 100 Power-On Hours/Cycle Count: 94/Always OK, Worst: 94 (Data = 5493) Power Cycle Count: 100/20, Worst: 100 (Data = 985) SATA Interface Downshift / Runtime Bad Block: 100/Always OK, Worst: 100 Reported Uncorrectable Errors: 100/Always OK, Worst: 100 Command Timeout: 100/Always OK, Worst: 98 (Data = 12) Spin Up Time: 98/Always OK, Worst: 97 Start/Stop Count: 99/20, Worst: 99 (Data = 1992) Seek Error Rate: 82/30, Worst: 60 (Data = 168181565) Spin Retry Count: 100/97, Worst: 100 Temperature: 29/Always OK, Worst: 47 (Data = 29.0 C) Reallocation Event Count: 100/36, Worst: 100 Current Pending Sector Count: 100/Always OK, Worst: 100 Off-Line Uncorrectable Sector Count: 100/Always OK, Worst: 100 Ultra DMA/SATA CRC Error Rate: 200/Always OK, Worst: 200 -------------------------------------- Optical Drive -------------------------------------- Drive Model: hp DVD-RAM GH60L Device Type: DVD+R DL Drive Serial Number: 027CD022497 Firmware Revision: RD01 Supported Disk Type (Read): CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+R DL Supported Disk Type (Write): CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM, DVD+R DL -------------------------------------- Display Adapter -------------------------------------- Video Card: EVGA e-GeForce GT 430 Video Chipset: nVIDIA GeForce GT 430 (GF108-300) Video Memory: 1048256 KBytes of DDR3 SDRAM Bus Type: PCIe v2.0 x16 (2.5 Gb/s) @ x16 (2.5 Gb/s) Video BIOS Version: 70.08.29.00.38 Video Chipset Revision: A1 Memory Bus Width: 64-bit Number Of Pixel Pipelines: 4 Number Of Unified Shaders: 96 GPU Temperature: N/A GPU Clock(Geometry Domain): 699.5 MHz GPU Clock(Shader Domain): 1399.1 MHz Memory Clock: 597.9 MHz (Effective 1195.7 MHz) -------------------------------------- Audio Adapter -------------------------------------- Audio Adapter: nVIDIA MCP61 - High Definition Audio Controller High Definition Audio Codec: RealTek ALC888 Audio Adapter: nVIDIA GF108 - High Definition Audio Controller High Definition Audio Codec: nVidia HDMI -------------------------------------- Network Adapter -------------------------------------- Network Adapter: Belkin USB Wireless Adaptor MAC Address: 94-44-52-EB-AA-72 Maximum Link Speed: 65 Mbps -------------------------------------- Monitor -------------------------------------- Monitor Name: Hewlett-Packard [unknown Model: HWP292F] Serial Number: CNT031S1K3 Date Of Manufacture: Week: 31, Year: 2010 Max Vertical Size: 23 cm Max Horizontal Size: 41 cm Standby: Not Supported Suspend: Not Supported Standard Colour Space: Supported Preferred Timing Mode: Supported Default GTF Supported: Not Supported -------------------------------------- Time of this report: 9/21/2012 7:47:22 AM HWiNFO32.dll: 3.9.6.0 HWiNFO32.sys: 8.72.0.0 HWiNFO64A.sys: 8.72.0.0 Here is some stuff i got from Hijack this!: Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.4 Scan saved at 7:58:36 AM, on 9/21/2012 Platform: Windows 7 SP1 (WinNT 6.00.3505) MSIE: Internet Explorer v9.00 (9.00.8112.16448) Boot mode: Normal Running processes: C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\BitTorrent\BitTorrent.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\DAEMON Tools Pro\DTShellHlp.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\HP Software Update\hpwuschd2.exe C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe C:\Users\Richard\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe C:\Windows\SysWOW64\NOTEPAD.EXE C:\Program Files (x86)\Trend Micro\HiJackThis\HiJackThis.exe R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft....k/?LinkId=54896 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL = http://go.microsoft....k/?LinkId=69157 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL = http://go.microsoft....k/?LinkId=54896 R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page = http://go.microsoft....k/?LinkId=54896 R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page = http://go.microsoft....k/?LinkId=69157 R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,SearchAssistant = R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search,CustomizeSearch = R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows\SysWOW64\blank.htm R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName = F2 - REG:system.ini: UserInit=userinit.exe O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll O2 - BHO: Java™ Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre7\bin\ssv.dll O2 - BHO: Windows Live ID Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-5164760863C6} - c:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll O2 - BHO: Bing Bar Helper - {d2ce3e00-f94a-4740-988e-03dc2f38c34f} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\BingBar\7.1.361.0\BingExt.dll O2 - BHO: Java™ Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre7\bin\jp2ssv.dll O3 - Toolbar: Bing Bar - {8dcb7100-df86-4384-8842-8fa844297b3f} - "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\BingBar\7.1.361.0\BingExt.dll" (file missing) O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [sunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe" O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [HP Software Update] C:\Program Files (x86)\Hp\HP Software Update\HPWuSchd2.exe O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe ARM] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\AdobeARM.exe" O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [sidebar] C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Sidebar\sidebar.exe /autoRun O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [bitTorrent] "C:\Program Files (x86)\BitTorrent\BitTorrent.exe" /MINIMIZED O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\Run: [sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'LOCAL SERVICE') O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-19\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'LOCAL SERVICE') O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\Run: [sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'NETWORK SERVICE') O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-20\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'NETWORK SERVICE') O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-1819839267-1696124477-317962788-1004\..\Run: [sidebar] %ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'UpdatusUser') O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-1819839267-1696124477-317962788-1004\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin] C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'UpdatusUser') O4 - Startup: Logitech . Product Registration.lnk = C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\LogiShrd\eReg\SetPoint\eReg.exe O9 - Extra button: Report to BullGuard - {27FD17FB-CF63-486b-B2BE-8D8781CBEA01} - C:\Program Files\BullGuard Ltd\BullGuard\Files32\Antiphishing\IE\BGAntiphishingIE.dll O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files (x86)\common files\microsoft shared\windows live\wlidnsp.dll O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files (x86)\common files\microsoft shared\windows live\wlidnsp.dll O11 - Options group: [ACCELERATED_GRAPHICS] Accelerated graphics O17 - HKLM\System\CCS\Services\Tcpip\..\{F272961C-CC80-4369-8BAA-B24B5490FD71}: NameServer = 192.168.1.1 O23 - Service: Adobe Acrobat Update Service (AdobeARMservice) - Adobe Systems Incorporated - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\ARM\1.0\armsvc.exe O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: BullGuard Behavioural Detection (BsBhvScan) - BullGuard Ltd. - C:\Program Files\BullGuard Ltd\BullGuard\BullGuardBhvScanner.exe O23 - Service: BullGuard scanning service (BsScanner) - BullGuard Ltd. - C:\Program Files\BullGuard Ltd\BullGuard\BullGuardScanner.exe O23 - Service: BullGuard update service (BsUpdate) - BullGuard Ltd. - C:\Program Files\BullGuard Ltd\BullGuard\BullGuardUpdate.exe O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\efssvc.dll,-100 (EFS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\lsass.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: ForceWare Intelligent Application Manager (IAM) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NetworkAccessManager\bin32\nSvcAppFlt.exe O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: Logitech Bluetooth Service (LBTServ) - Logitech, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\LogiShrd\Bluetooth\lbtserv.exe O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: ForceWare IP service (nSvcIp) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\NetworkAccessManager\bin32\nSvcIp.exe O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (nvsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\nvvsvc.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: NVIDIA Update Service Daemon (nvUpdatusService) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\NVIDIA Update Core\daemonu.exe O23 - Service: PinnacleUpdate Service (PinnacleUpdateSvc) - PowerUp Software, LLC - C:\Program Files (x86)\PowerUp Software\Pinnacle Game Profiler\pinnacle_updater.exe O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: Realtek11nSU - Realtek - C:\Program Files (x86)\Realtek\11n USB Wireless LAN Utility\RtlService.exe O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\sppsvc.exe,-101 (sppsvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: NVIDIA Stereoscopic 3D Driver Service (Stereo Service) - NVIDIA Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\3D Vision\nvSCPAPISvr.exe O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vaultsvc.dll,-1003 (VaultSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Wat\WatUX.exe,-601 (WatAdminSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\Wat\WatAdminSvc.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing) O23 - Service: @%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101 (WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing) -- End of file - 9255 bytes

Hello, Recently I have been experiencing a huge problem with my internet. My anti-virus, McAfee is apparently blocking my internet for some reason. It happens about every week or so, and I have to do a restore each time. And the funny thing is I have wifi hooked up to my modem, and for some reason that works. Thanks in advance, IronIngot