Zone Alarms system check-up

[carl606]

I have zone alarm.....and i recieved a few e-mails telling me about this new "system check-up"
I don't know much about these sort of programs .

I had done a quick search and got some conflicting results...


Here's a quote from PC Advisor
FULL THREAD

ran it last night found loads of problems, which i have checked to be false, i noticed it had put an icon on my desktop this morning, ran it again totally different results, how it can do a spyware scan in a couple of seconds confuses me. i think this is better left alone.

Are these programs better left alone ????

[melboy]

Are these programs better left alone ????

Short answer - Yes.

It's basically going to try to convince you you need to buy a Registry cleaner/system tweaking tool.

I ran it and I'm surprised my PC runs as well as it does.

....Just a couple....

Problem
A total of 94880 known security flaw(s) have been identified on your system that could allow an attacker access to your personal information or cause irreversible damage.

Oh my gosh!

Problem
A total of 183 MB of system clutter was found on your PC. These junk and redundant files are wasting valuable hard drive space, robbing system performance, and causing potential reliability problems.

What!?! A whole 183 meg!? Hmmm...., maybe I should buy their temp file cleaner? I cant think of any other way to do it?

Problem
Your Windows Registry currently has at least 157 problems caused by invalid or unnecessary configuration settings. Registry problems are a common cause of sporadic PC errors, performance loss, system shutdowns, blue screens, and other stubborn issues.

Oh look, they're also trying to get me to buy their registry cleaner....

Miekiemoes view on Registry Cleaners and System Tweaking Tools

[Gary R]

Tune up tools + computer ..................... ............ nuff said.

[Wingman]

I have to agree with those opinions previously posted. These kinds of "tuneup utilities" often do more harm than good. The only thing getting "tuned-up" are the wallets of the manufacturers.

[carl606]

Short answer - Yes.

It's basically going to try to convince you you need to buy a Registry cleaner/system tweaking tool.

Nice reply melboy...
I gathered as much , i had seen these type of programs before but just left them alone because i did not really know what they where.
Now since joining the MRU i am taking more of an interest in them, and having zone alarm on the XP machine at least thought this might be a genuine program.
Quote from PC Advisor forum..

..i wouldnt have expected this type of scare selling from zone alarm

Thats really why i posted as i did not expect this from zone alarm.

But anyway if it had mentioned the term " Registry cleaner " i would not have botherd posting, as i do not even use the one in ccleaner.

Is there a name for this type of program.....like (scareware)

Thanks also....Gary R and Wingman