internet explorer crashing?

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Also my computer restarted for no reason yesterday. Usually I'm good with figuring out problems with a computer but what's wrong with it? I have software installed that keeps out malicious applications and such so what else could it be?

When you say you have software installed to keep out malicious applications which software do you mean / use?
Have you checked out your system using these programs: AdAware, Spybot search and Destroy? These two normally pick up if something has sneaked onto your system. There is another one Super AntiSpyware which is also good.

I'd make sure pc is clean first before looking for other, maybe hardware related causes.

I use spyware doctor, which picked up a trojan but I got rid of it and I'm still experiencing problems.

Firefox.

You need to clean that system...

Recommended anti-virus for you:
Install AVG Anti-Virus for a start.

Then you uninstall it and install a free trial version of Sophos Anti-Virus and doing a scan with this one. (I would recommend on keeping this one installed)

When you're going for anti-spyware software, I would recommend that you look at some reviews which I have done. You'll find it here.

Thanks man I'll try it now.

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This is why I have a Mac and use Safari.

Don't be so cocky. Macs can get viruses too, and Safari may be better than IE (well, basically every browser in the world is better than IE) but it has its security vulnerabilities as well.

Yeah, that's true.

In the middle of the sophos scan I got a message that looked something like this: 'Login process has failed to create the security options dialog' (which i looked up on google and didn't find anything useful) I really don't remember exactly what it was but when it happened the screen went black and the dialog box came up, then I got back to my Windows explorer normally and everything got wicked screwy. Do you think someone is f*****g with my system or is my computer just breaking down or something? My scan is still running and so far it's come up with no results. I've had my computer for about a couple of years maybe less, and I've never experienced this with any computer so what could be wrong?

v0lume:
1. Back up all important data onto an external HD.
2. Obtain (if you don't already have it) copies of antivirus and antispyware programs on CDs. If you're using programs you downloaded from the internet, save them on a thumb drive or something so you can have them ready to install without having to get on the Internet to download them again.
3. Wipe your computer's HD and re-install Windows. Make sure that it's not hooked up to the internet at all.
4. Before connecting your computer to the internet, install the anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. I have Symantec anti-virus and Spybot Search and Destroy. They seem to work pretty well. If you're really paranoid, get something like ZoneAlarm firewall as well.
5. Now that you have security software installed, it is safer (not safe, but safer than with no protection) to get on the Internet. In Internet Explorer, there is only one site you should visit: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/ Get Firefox, use it for all your web browsing. If you find you don't like it much, then use it to download other browsers like Opera, Safari, Seamonkey, or Chrome.
6. Delete Internet Explorer, or at least eliminate all icons for it from your quick-launch bar, desktop, and menus. Yes, I am serious. I went out of my way to make IE completely inaccessible when I installed Vista. Running it is like having a giant "data-mine me" sign on your computer.
7. Be sure to turn off all the gaping security holes such as file-sharing.
8. If you want a more secure system, switch to an open-source *nix system like Linux (Ubuntu is n00b-friendly) or BSD. You can still run all your Windows programs under Virtualbox and/or Wine if you want to. The main thing you'll lose is gaming. If you want to stick with Windows, fine, but know that it is much more of a challenge to keep Windows secure than it is to find the correct wireless driver in Linux.

Make sure you have a firewall over there, too. It will reduce the amount of viruses you get. (Comodo works pretty good and is free of charge.)

Avira seems like a good anti-virus solution also and since different anti-virus solutions uses different engines for virus identification you need several, although only one should be installed at a time so you won't get problems with the system.

And you have some anti-virus solutions which uses online scanning in the browser (active-x plugin). You could use them too. Panda Security and E-SET NOD32) might be sufficient.

Regarding Sophos: If you are on a slow system you can turn off scanning mode and configure up a scheduled scan. It may not be very fun to use the system if that setting is on.

I was going to wipe my hd and reinstall windows but I use Verizon wireless internet so when I want a connection again I'll have to go back to the Verizon store and get the software reinstalled (which could trigger a meltdown). I don't care about having a messed up hd, I'm just paranoid of someone figuring out the passwords I use on my computer so that they could financially hurt me. So I may have to go back to that place after all. meh >>

Plus I've read before that experienced hackers can get through these security programs anyway, but I guess a false sense of protection is better than none.

If you're paranoid about security you really should go for Linux instead.

Ok when I come up with the money I'll see what I can do.