TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPIC: THE BEST "ANTI" SOFTWARE / LINUX

Have you ever downloaded a free program to fix a problem on your PC, only to find that things got worse... or MUCH worse? See my rundown of the best anti-spyware, anti-virus and popup blockers below. Also in this issue, help on getting started with Linux. Read on!

Geeks Bearing Gifts?

A few days ago, a reader asked me a question that I've been hearing more frequently. Perhaps you will identify...

> "Should I regularly run SpyBot, AdAware and other freeware, or
> should I pay for a supposedly better program? I read so much
> negative about every program and I am quite confused about them.
> If they really are worth the money, I am willing to try them.
> Can you give me your opinion on the best anti-virus, anti-spyware
> and popup blockers?

I do agree that it's wise to be wary of downloading certain freeware solutions for spyware, viruses & popups. Some of the those freebies are rogue programs meant to open your computer to an invasion of spyware and viruses. Find out which ones to avoid, and which of the free alternatives really work!

http://www.askbobrankin.com/should_i_buy_anti-spyware.html

Linux: Time to Switch?

Every once in a while I mention Linux -- a free alternative to the Microsoft Windows operating system. It used to be that Linux was just for geeks. But modern Linux variants are easy to install, have friendly graphical interfaces, and come with a full suite of software for word processing, spreadsheets, email, web browsing and more.

Lots of people are switching to Linux because both the operating system and all the software you'll ever need are available for free. Others find it attractive because there are very few problems with viruses, spyware and security. If you're curious about Linux and would like to try it out, these articles will help you get started:

History of Linux http://www.askbobrankin.com/history_of_linux.html

Where Can I Download Linux? http://www.askbobrankin.com/where_can_i_download_linux.html

Help with Basic Linux Commands http://www.askbobrankin.com/help_with_basic_linux_commands.html

Feelin' Mighty Low (on Memory)?

Sometimes when I try to open multiple programs at once, I'll get that dreaded message saying 'Your system is low on virtual memory.' The system will then run VERY slowly or just freeze.

When all of your computer's real physical memory (RAM) is in use, Windows will try to create virtual memory by grabbing a chunk of hard drive space and treating it like real memory. If you encounter the low virtual memory error message, you may have hit your PC's memory limit, or it could be "leaky software." Here's some advice on solving this problem:

http://www.askbobrankin.com/low_virtual_memory.html

The Top Twenty

Did you catch the Top Twenty on AskBobRankin? I went through the logs to see which articles were the most popular in 2005, and made a list of the Top Twenty, ranked by readership volume...

http://www.askbobrankin.com/the_top_twenty.html

That's all for now. Happy New Year to all -- Patrick and I wish you a fantastic 2006!