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I still see non-tech savvy friends have computers with "adware" installed in their browser. It's usually because they tried to "fix" something themselves, googl

I still see non-tech savvy friends have computers with "adware" installed in their browser. It's usually because they tried to "fix" something themselves, googled, and installed something that was purported to fix the problem. There are a bunch of well SEO'd sites that will come up if you google nearly any computer issue that will appear to have a solution, but step 3 is usually to try installing some software. (For example, if you google "can't delete file windows" this site will come up. I don't recommend installing the software https://www.easeus.com/partition-manager-software/delete-files-that-cannot-be-deleted.html https://www.easeus.com/partition-manager-software/delete-fil... ) Here's a discussion on MalwareBytes forum about it: https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/166526-easeus-partition-master/ https://forums.malwarebytes.com/topic/166526-easeus-partitio... No matter how many times I yell and scream at friends not to just blindly google for "Device Drivers" and install them, they do. Even sites that look a lot like a legit Epson or Canon site (for scanner or printer drivers, etc) are fake. (And they're searching for device drivers because they have a printer problem and they don't realize that the need to install a custom driver for a name-brand current printer on Windows or MacOS is very very rare)

jolmg 7y ago
> For example, if you google "can't delete file windows" this site will come up. I don't recommend installing the software https://www.easeus.com/partition-manager-software/delete-fil.. https://www.easeus.com/partition-manager-software/delete-fil.... ) That's interesting. It starts talking about different ways to try to delete a file, and at the end it recommends that software and gives instructions to wipe partitions with it. Did I misunderstood that? > No matter how many times I yell and scream at friends not to just blindly google for "Device Drivers" and install them, they do. Even sites that look a lot like a legit Epson or Canon site (for scanner or printer drivers, etc) are fake. Does Windows still not have package repositories like Linux distros do? Installing software from anywhere other than official repos should be an obvious no-no if repos simply existed.
- MagicPropmaker 7y ago
  > Does Windows still not have package repositories like Linux distros do? Installing software from anywhere other than official repos should be an obvious no-no if repos simply existed. Yes, of course. And If you must get the custom software (for example I like the value-added software for my Fujitsu document scanners with sheet-feeders) then the ONLY thing to do is to go to Fujitsu's official site--after making 100% certain it's really the site--and getting it from there.
gowld 7y ago
It's fascinating that someone knows what a device driver is but doesn't know what a malware site is. Is this someone whose computer knowledge is frozen in 1996?
- MagicPropmaker 7y ago
  Here's a typical example of a fake Windows Driver site: https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/solved-printer-driver-is-unavailable-on-windows/ https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/solved-printer-driver-i... People will ignore the giant red warning Windows gives you and install it.
- jolmg 7y ago
  Actually, it's news to me that Windows no longer requires looking for and installing device drivers for common printer brands. Also, what's a malware site? Is that an anti-virus official website or a forum where people just talk about their experiences with malware? I guess my Windows knowledge is stuck in the 90s/00s. Never really needed either on Linux.
- scarface74 7y ago
  How many people trusted SourceForge and CNET’s download.com that added adware to third party software?
dwyerm 7y ago
Perhaps the disbelief that your piece of hardware is now useless is stronger than the disbelief in the honesty of the internet? It is amusing to me that you mention Canon, since they're one of the worst offenders I've dealt with in this regard. During the change from W98 to Win7, they cut off support for whole product lines. My scanner, purchased just a few years ago, was now useless. My Linux box had better driver support than my shiny new Windows box. It was unbelievable that my scanner was no longer functional, and I was willing to try some hacking to try to get it functional again... So... I understand especially why people are looking for drivers. They're looking to extend the value of their purchases.
scarface74 7y ago
I refuse to install even manufacturers printer drivers on my Windows computers because of all the crapware that comes with them. On the rare occasion that I need to print, I just do it from my iPhone/iPad to my AirPrint compatible printers. Luckily, most of the time, you don’t need printer drivers for consumer printers for Macs. They mostly support AirPrint.
- MagicPropmaker 7y ago
  Adware is a huge problem on Mac, too. See: https://www.cultofmac.com/415565/how-to-eliminate-the-adware-thats-plaguing-your-mac/ https://www.cultofmac.com/415565/how-to-eliminate-the-adware... And no, you don't generally need to install printer drivers on Windows from anyone other than Microsoft via the update or the new-hardware detection.
  - scarface74 7y ago
    The thing is -- you don't install printer drivers at all for Macs if they support AirPrint. Most consumer level printers do. Macs and iOS devices find printers on the network automatically and you can just print to them. You definitely don't have to worry about whether a new printer already has a driver distributed by Apple.
    - MagicPropmaker 7y ago
      It's exactly the same situation on Windows today. It just works. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4015386/windows-10-install-printer https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4015386/windows-10-...

jolmg 7y ago

> For example, if you google "can't delete file windows" this site will come up. I don't recommend installing the software https://www.easeus.com/partition-manager-software/delete-fil.. https://www.easeus.com/partition-manager-software/delete-fil.... ) That's interesting. It starts talking about different ways to try to delete a file, and at the end it recommends that software and gives instructions to wipe partitions with it. Did I misunderstood that? > No matter how many times I yell and scream at friends not to just blindly google for "Device Drivers" and install them, they do. Even sites that look a lot like a legit Epson or Canon site (for scanner or printer drivers, etc) are fake. Does Windows still not have package repositories like Linux distros do? Installing software from anywhere other than official repos should be an obvious no-no if repos simply existed.

MagicPropmaker 7y ago
> Does Windows still not have package repositories like Linux distros do? Installing software from anywhere other than official repos should be an obvious no-no if repos simply existed. Yes, of course. And If you must get the custom software (for example I like the value-added software for my Fujitsu document scanners with sheet-feeders) then the ONLY thing to do is to go to Fujitsu's official site--after making 100% certain it's really the site--and getting it from there.

gowld 7y ago

It's fascinating that someone knows what a device driver is but doesn't know what a malware site is. Is this someone whose computer knowledge is frozen in 1996?

MagicPropmaker 7y ago
Here's a typical example of a fake Windows Driver site: https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/solved-printer-driver-is-unavailable-on-windows/ https://www.drivereasy.com/knowledge/solved-printer-driver-i... People will ignore the giant red warning Windows gives you and install it.
jolmg 7y ago
Actually, it's news to me that Windows no longer requires looking for and installing device drivers for common printer brands. Also, what's a malware site? Is that an anti-virus official website or a forum where people just talk about their experiences with malware? I guess my Windows knowledge is stuck in the 90s/00s. Never really needed either on Linux.
scarface74 7y ago
How many people trusted SourceForge and CNET’s download.com that added adware to third party software?

dwyerm 7y ago

Perhaps the disbelief that your piece of hardware is now useless is stronger than the disbelief in the honesty of the internet? It is amusing to me that you mention Canon, since they're one of the worst offenders I've dealt with in this regard. During the change from W98 to Win7, they cut off support for whole product lines. My scanner, purchased just a few years ago, was now useless. My Linux box had better driver support than my shiny new Windows box. It was unbelievable that my scanner was no longer functional, and I was willing to try some hacking to try to get it functional again... So... I understand especially why people are looking for drivers. They're looking to extend the value of their purchases.

scarface74 7y ago

I refuse to install even manufacturers printer drivers on my Windows computers because of all the crapware that comes with them. On the rare occasion that I need to print, I just do it from my iPhone/iPad to my AirPrint compatible printers. Luckily, most of the time, you don’t need printer drivers for consumer printers for Macs. They mostly support AirPrint.

MagicPropmaker 7y ago
Adware is a huge problem on Mac, too. See: https://www.cultofmac.com/415565/how-to-eliminate-the-adware-thats-plaguing-your-mac/ https://www.cultofmac.com/415565/how-to-eliminate-the-adware... And no, you don't generally need to install printer drivers on Windows from anyone other than Microsoft via the update or the new-hardware detection.
- scarface74 7y ago
  The thing is -- you don't install printer drivers at all for Macs if they support AirPrint. Most consumer level printers do. Macs and iOS devices find printers on the network automatically and you can just print to them. You definitely don't have to worry about whether a new printer already has a driver distributed by Apple.
  - MagicPropmaker 7y ago
    It's exactly the same situation on Windows today. It just works. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4015386/windows-10-install-printer https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4015386/windows-10-...