Spybot won't refund me

[Debby]

Hi! Last week, I bought Business level (though I don't have a business) Spybot search & destroy program. But it didn't install correctly and showed some error messages. It installed some parts but not all. I was very disappointed, and asked them for a refund, but they ignore me. Then in my confusion after that, I deleted the program from my downloads, thinking it useless. Then I downloaded trial Malawarebytes and it found and removed items. I don't plan to keep the program because of the cost. But I wonder if my using Malwarebytes, should have been done before trying to install the SPybot program. I finally decided that since they won't give me a refund, that I might as well try out the Spybot program. But I have no way to undelete it that I know of.

I've decided I may do without antiviruses that cost, and to probably just usually use Windows Defender. And to try to learn more about what I can do on my own to help keep my computer safe from hackers.

But if you know of any way to get Spybot to respond to me, let me know or tell them for me. Thanks! In an email from them, they said they won't respond to me unless I log into the program and put my pin in it. I have the pin still available - but no program, so it will be of no use. Anyhow, if you have a good suggestion about what I might do about this situation, I'll be grateful!

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Contact your credit card provider about a charge back.

 

[Debby]

Thanks! I'll try that!

 

[Paul Black]

Hi Debby,

Then in my confusion after that, I deleted the program from my downloads, thinking it useless.

Did you use right-click delete?

But I have no way to undelete it that I know of.

How was the program sent to you originally, was it via a link?

I hope this helps!

 

[samuria]

Its a old program that fills your host file with 1,000 of entries which can slow your network

 

[mrjimphelps]

if you know of any way to get Spybot to respond to me, let me know or tell them for me. Thanks! In an email from them, they said they won't respond to me unless I log into the program and put my pin in it. I have the pin still available - but no program, so it will be of no use. Anyhow, if you have a good suggestion about what I might do about this situation, I'll be grateful!

Try reinstalling the program, so that you can log into it and put in your PIN.

 

[Rainner]

I've decided I may do without antiviruses that cost, and to probably just usually use Windows Defender. And to try to learn more about what I can do on my own to help keep my computer safe from hackers.

Hiya Debby,

Kudos on wanting to learn! I also do not use any 3rd party antivirus. I have been penetrated in my last business while running commercial antivirus, which was not pretty.

These are just some ideas I will share with you that I do.
NOTE: These ideas are not all that can be done and do not cover everything that can be done, just a starting point for me. Some infections cannot be removed by a complete reimage such as a sofisticated eeprom virus but the basic or most prominent ones circulating can be done away with with a new image.

So this is my basic starting point (ideas to play with and learn from)

I create a clean System Image and .reg file; these are my primary sources I work with for basic security against intruders and my own mistakes.

When I reinstall an OS and it's how I like it, I do two things:

1. I create an system IMAGE file for recovery

Important Note: Every time I add something specific like new software or specific tweaks I need and I know its functioning how I want it, I make a new system IMAGE file. So when restoring in the future I don't have to reinstall that software again or make those tweaks over.

2. I export my .reg file using regedit
Before I make any changes, even the smallest, I export my .reg file using built in REGEDIT program, so if something is not working correctly after the procedure, I just import that file by clicking on it and I'm back to where I started. When my changes are good, I create a new one and label it as such.

Since my last virus played with hiding my restore points making me think I had no restore points, I now copy these points off to another device for redundancy in case they are deleted or corrupted. There hidden and you would need to change ownership and permissions to do it, but its a nice feeling when it's done.

I keep ALL my data, work, pics, anything I don't wan't to replace on a differant media/drive etc.

I've been infected several times on this machine testing and it works great for me at the basic virus/malware level. I can re-image my hd with my new system image and I'm back in business. My data isn't affected as I keep it elswhere.
In referance to my 'basic level', I mean most viruses/malware I see fall into this catagory as they are the most prominant, BUT there are much more sofisticated viruses such as eeprom viruses that can move around and hide during boot/shutdown.

As I said, these are just some interesting starting points to play with and learn from but not a cure all

Also if you do or have a desire to do system automations, all this can be easily automated.

Note: I find doing as many things as I can by learning them and doing them manually or with my own automations, and not using 3rd party software keeps my OS leaner and not so bloated which leads to system performance degradation. The more I learn and do on my own, the leaner, cleaner, and happier my system is.

So these are just some ideas, I'm sure others will have input as well

-Rainner

 

[Debby]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I will keep them on hand! you can close this - sorry for being late!