ccApp.exe

Program Files\Common Files\Symantec Shared

It’s part of the Symantec (Norton) Internet protection center (pardon no caps) and supposedly vital to some experience.  Out of exasperation I was playing with the F8 key early and discovered a BIOS function I’d rather not have known about, which I think caused my problems.  I’m “using” Norton Save & Restore…and the critical files are on the external hard drive.  I don’t really even want to update them any more.  Vital documents just don’t go to C: drive.  So I (with CCleaner) deleted Save and Restore and the unmentionable update thing as well.  Symantec says it’s vital…but to actually recover…you put in the cd and play like you’re restoring.  At most you would have to install it, and most restores are actually done past that point. 

 

I did consider modifying the *.exe to *.txt (ccApp.exe->ccApp.txt) or any other kind of unobvious file name.  However, the Norton site gave a very strong impression that there’s a registry entry pointing to it; there was even something about removing it from Startup (or having had it removed therefrom) and due recommendations.

And the reason for all this…was because I had Norton Save & Restore installed at the same time as AVG Anti-Virus.

–Glenn

Down For A While

Due to some things going on in my life (re boring things like finance, Social Security, loops quite similar to those in programs) this is the first post in a while.  Just out of masochism I decided to try out the Google IE 7 browser, and all went wrong.  After that came a ccApp.exe “hook” [theoretically more on that later] which needed to be dealt with.  Very weak having someone in town build a computer for you.  If you don’t buy a Dell or whatever…build it yourself.  I’ve also stretched it as far as pain goes, so I’m feeling a trifle monosyllabic.  However Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is as soothing and peaceful as ever.  Reminds me of…of…Lucy?

–Glenn

A Further Note On Protection

First of all, I tend to expand this considerably, and even to be serious throughout.  At this point, protection isn’t a joke.  A recent experiment run by a university team found a botnet with millions of users with infected computers, all of whom were presumably unaware.  The first thing after internet access has to be installation of an anti-badware program.  I like that better than malware, mainly because “malware” gives the impression it’s always a sophisticated exploit.  “password” was the most commonly-used password on computer access until IT finally realized it.  (Very few systems will take it.  Don’t use it.)

 

Since access to information through our computers has expanded, the computer has come to play more and more of a role in our lives, yet most of us understand it (let alone the Internet) considerably less than our cars.  We’re unsure of the distinction between a worm and a virus.  *.cab files are something programmers talk about.  We hear of phishing attacks, don’t know what to do, and click on links anyway, whether in our e-mail from people we “know” or on web pages like MSN or Yahoo!

 

I’ve recently been most impressed with Norton.  I’m not impressed with McAfee and haven’t been for a long time.  There are free anti-badware suites out there (and the more sophisticated ones do things like file cleanup, defragmentation and a lot more)…with documentation that unfortunately has to be aimed at the more sophisticated user.  The more sophisticated user is the rarity.  Norton has both the easy setup and the support to back it up.  Symantec is the corporation behind Norton.  I was recently astonished at support for Norton Save & Restore, which is a backup solution.

 

I think I spent $19.95 on the product.  There was no expiration date (I can’t say whether that’s true of current versions because I haven’t yet checked).   The problem involved validation of a valid product (that had previously been validated–on a previous computer).   We kept getting errors on input of the code for it.  “We” meant I actually installed the software for remote control from Symantec and allowed a technician (who showed actual OS and product understanding) to try. 

 

As it happened, he and I couldn’t make it work.  In the meantime, it turned out I’d been hit by a Netsky virus (and I’m going to have a further note on protection momentarily) so I had to reinstall Windows, and such.  And they called back!  We got it installed with a functioning backup.  Interestingly enough, it matched the code we’d been trying all along, but that’s another story.

 

I agree with current analysts that for web-surfing we’re going to have a web-based OS, practically.  What I do know for right now is that at this time and point web-based backup makes actual sense.  Consider Norton 360.  And as far as price goes, consider what happens when something happens that you don’t understand and there is no backup.  Forums can be quite frustrating.

 

Because you will get hit.  You will lose a drive; almost undoubtedly you’ll get hit by a virus or worm or some other sort of badware.  The loss of information in a society where information has become the medium of value is the loss of “money” and other value indicators.  Think about it.  And I’ve actually advertised Symantec twice in this blog.  I’ve never done that except with free software.

–Glenn

you can’t trust anyone, these days

Symantec had an interesting blog entry up today.  Malware writers are trying to write in EULA’s (End User License Agreement, a ‘legal’ contract).  Follow the link and you’ll read it.  Basically, it’s the same kind of contract you get on software you buy off the ‘Net or from a store.

–Glenn