I'm sure malware writers do have fun robbing innocent netizens of their privacy, money, and status. In my perspective, some people are just desperate or the goal to achieve something becomes too overwhelming, thus is what fuels their flame.
Microsoft is attempting to rival Adobe's Flash Player with their Silverlight, which in my opinion is somewhat fighting a losing battle. If not, then it's a uphill battle for Microsoft. What I also don't like is Microsoft computers being preloaded with junk (Weatherbug with HP) and Norton. I read a article once about how Sony's VAIO computers (or Sony brand PCs) charge you money to remove the junk. They give you a discount if you allow them to install more.
Remember, not every person on the globe (worldwide) is computer educated, like you and me. Some people don't even know what a firewall is, as they are connecting the vast cyber world for the first time, and are limited to only clicking and shutting down the computer.
No one software or computer is invincible.
i feel like not installing my computer drivers anymore but i have heard that the chipset driver is important. i am sure some of the tings that comes with the computers is unnessecary. windvd just dont work with dvds anyway, but i dont sit and watch movies on the small computer display, it is boring and with a crappy soundquality with mostly only treble. and then there is the yamaha softsyntheziser that plays midi files, but i think there is other players that plays that too, and even windows mediaplayer.
here is the startup list that i have from spybot:
Located: HK_LM:Run, 000StTHK
command: 000StTHK.exe
file: C:\WINDOWS\system32\000StTHK.exe
Located: HK_LM:Run, 00THotkey
command: C:\WINDOWS\system32\00THotkey.exe
file: C:\WINDOWS\system32\00THotkey.exe
Located: HK_LM:Run, Adobe Reader Speed Launcher
command: "C:\Programfiler\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
file: C:\Programfiler\Adobe\Reader 8.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe
Located: HK_LM:Run, Apoint
command: C:\Programfiler\Apoint2K\Apoint.exe
file: C:\Programfiler\Apoint2K\Apoint.exe
Located: HK_LM:Run, avast!
command: C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
file: C:\PROGRA~1\ALWILS~1\Avast4\ashDisp.exe
Located: HK_LM:Run, SunJavaUpdateSched
command: "C:\Programfiler\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\jusched.exe"
file: C:\Programfiler\Java\jre1.6.0_07\bin\jusched.exe
Located: HK_LM:Run, SxgTkBar
command: SxgTkBar.exe
file: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SxgTkBar.exe
Located: HK_LM:Run, TouchED
command: C:\Programfiler\TOSHIBA\TouchED\TouchED.Exe
file: C:\Programfiler\TOSHIBA\TouchED\TouchED.Exe
Located: HK_LM:Run, Tpwrtray
command: TPWRTRAY.EXE
file: C:\WINDOWS\system32\TPWRTRAY.EXE
Located: HK_CU:RunOnce, tscuninstall
command: %systemroot%\system32\tscupgrd.exe
file: C:\WINDOWS\system32\tscupgrd.exe
Located: HK_CU:RunOnce, nlsf
command: "%SystemRoot%\System32\syssetub.dll" "%SystemRoot%\System32\syssetup.dll"
file: C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe
Located: HK_CU:Run, ctfmon.exe
command: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
file: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ctfmon.exe
Located: HK_CU:Run, HostsServer
command: C:\Programfiler\HostsMan\hostssrv.exe --start
file: C:\Programfiler\HostsMan\hostssrv.exe
and some winlogon entries.
is the yamaha softsyntheziser necessary? maybe windows mediaplayer didnt play midis years ago, i dont remember. i can see that it plays midis now.
Haha.