FSAutoStart

[Mace2004]

I've been using FSAutoStart for a couple of weeks now and it's working well.  Very nice to be able to shut down so many of the useless (for gaming) processes and programs and then restart when done with AH.  

However, the one program (or series of programs) FS doesn't seem to work with is the McAfee Security Center.  I've tried configuring FS to shut down both the programs themselves as well as specific processes and most processes either continue to run or restart on their own.  These processes include McNASvc, mclogsrv, mcpromgr, mcshell, Mcshield, mcsysmon, mctskshd, mcupdmgr, and mcusrmgr.  

What I've found is that after FS has shut everything else down I need to go to Task Manager and shut down the McAfee processes individually before starting AH.  Given that some of these processes take up large chunks of memory (total is about 120,000k) it makes a big difference in memory and makes a noticable difference in micro-stutters in gameplay.  Strangely enough, after finishing with AH, FS appears to restart McAfee completely even though I had to use Task Manager to shut it down.

My questions are these:

First, is there any danger in shutting down McAfee completely while playing online?  I'm operating behind a DLink router with built-in firewall so I don't think I'm "exposed" but I suspect I'm wrong on that.

Second, would I be better off (from a safety perspective) allowing McAfee to run but shut down some specific functions within the program instead while allowing functions critical to safety running?  If so which functions can safely be disabled and which should continue to run?

Last, assuming it's ok to shut down the processes does anyone know how to get FS to successfully do the shut down?

Also, I know FSAutoStart has been discussed on this forum; however, a search for it turns up nothing.

Thanks,
Mace

[Rolex]

First, you can't get a virus playing AH, so you are not at risk at all by shutting it down. That is the answer to your second question, also.

If FSAutoStart isn't shutting it down, it may just be that the app is not working properly to stop it.

If you:

- regularly open email attachments from people you don't know
- follow links from spam mail
- use MS Outlook or Outlook Express and have html enabled
- do not check for security updates
- have ActiveX and scripting enabled in IE

then you probably need some anti-virus protection.

If you:

- don't open email attachments
- don't follow links from spam mail
- don't use MS Outlook or Outlook Express for an email client
- regularly check Windows Update
- disable ActiveX (but allow *.windows.com to use ActiveX as a trusted site) and scripting in IE,  or use Firefox browser. ActiveX is the number 1 exploit used to deliver bad things to your computer and probably accounts for 90% of the problems for a home user. It's the number 1 reason the anti-virus industry exits.

then you probably don't need to buy or use any antivirus software at all.

The only thing you need to do is get rid of tracking cookies which can be done using trendmicro.com online. Somehow, I have never gotten a virus or worm in ten years without ever installing or buying any anti-virus or 'security' software, by following the above.

[Schatzi]

I disagree partly with you Rolex. I do neither of those clicking things (or opening those nice little .exes i get sent every now an then, that would make my PC more "secure"). I still have AVG (free AV softare, runs well with AH) installed and running. You never know. But turning AV off while playing AH shoulndt endager you at all.

A thought on McAffee here. Wouldnt an antivirus software be useless if it allowed another software to shut it down? I mean, hey... id just program my virus to do that if it could be done.

[Rolex]

Schatzi, you were genetically engineered to disagree with me. All women disagree with me.

There are many people alot smarter about security than me here. I'd be interested to hear specifically how a home user behind a router with a properly configured firewall can get a virus playing AH.

[Schatzi]

Originally posted by Rolex
Schatzi, you were genetically engineered to disagree with me. All women disagree with me.
 

There are many people alot smarter about security than me here. I'd be interested to hear specifically how a home user behind a router with a properly configured firewall can get a virus playing AH.

Good question. I always thought you couldnt.

[The Fugitive]

you can't ! Also, with antivirus running, it tries to check "packets" coming in and will cause lag, or so I've heard. I use AVG too, and shut it down when I run FSautostart.

never had to work on McAfee before tho so I can't help ya there.

[Mace2004]

All, thanks for your responses.  Schatzi, your comment about anti-virus programs being designed to not all another program to shut them down makes a ton of sense.  McAfee is the only program that refuses to quit so you've probably hit the nail on the head.  

Regarding the idea you can't get a virus while playing AH....well let's just say I'm leary.  I'm no computer guru but I understand that there are plenty of hackers that use port scans to access a computer to install back doors so I'd think that even if you're not perusing the porn sites or opening e-mail attachments you could still be vulnerable just by being online.  Again, that's just what I'm concerned about, don't know if I'm right or wrong.  I know I've got a router with built-in firewall but have no real idea if I've configured it properly or not or whether or not AH opens a port that could be accessed.  Anybody know what the minimum protection would be?  I'm positive that there is a performance difference when I shut McAfee down so that tells me that it's doing something. If McAfee thinks it needs to check packets wouldn't you think there is a good reason to do so?

Mace