• Hardware: Usually, that’s not as common as it sounds. Most PCs can stay usable into a seventh year of service. Yes, SEVEN years, IF the software that must run is reasonable and not hardware intensive. Ask a local tech if your processor and memory and hard drive are still OK for the programs you run. It is always a good idea to use a top online backup service or a back up drive to keep copies of your data.
• Fragmentation: Make sure you’re defragmenting the C: drive at least four times per year, and after any big software upgrades. I frequently see old XP computers that have important settings files or the mail storage file broken into several hundred pieces–that costs time, and speed suffers.
• Software Age: Follow my rule of hardware/software matchups: The software you run, other than security products and browsers and browser plugins, should be of a similar age to your hardware. This year’s big office productivity suite won’t run fast on a five-year-old computer, but the same product from the year you bought the computer will be quite usable, and there are faster, smaller programs available for most tasks. Big software means slow, and software ‘suites’ means big, slow, and expensive. So moving backwards a few years to an older version of a big program will generally improve speed; consider the option if you don’t need every hot new feature in the new versions.
• Security Suites: For security products, suites are more than just slow; they’re evil. They do everything under the sun, and take all the processing power your computer has got to keep them going. Dump every security program that uses ‘suite’ or ‘internet security’ in the name. Switch to a simple antivirus program that doesn’t attempt to interfere with Windows’ built-in firewall, built-in parental controls, or communications in general. Just scanning; that’s all you want. Keeping a computer safe is done by keeping all patches up-to-date, and running a good antivirus program. Suites are not useful; they move spam filtering onto your computer instead of keeping it safely at the professionally-managed server run by the mail service, they tamper with Windows security settings, they interfere with the local network and VPN configuration, and they shut down mail and internet access with no notice. Go small. Avoid security suites.
• Toolbars: Uninstall every toolbar. These are known by other names–technicians refer to them as ‘browser helper objects’. There was a time when these were useful, and added features that browsers did not have, back around the year 2000, like popup blockers and on-page search features. Those features are built into every modern browser, and browser toolbars are a major slowdown, and having multiple toolbars is a major drain on a PC. This is the most important system change you can make for speed–remove all the toolbars. Use Control Panel, Add/Remove programs to take out all toolbars except anything that’s part of the installed antivirus product, and then turn off the antivirus toolbar by going into Internet Explorer’s View menu, choose Toolbars, and uncheck the remaining toolbar item there.
• Search programs: Windows 7 has a good built-in search program–it’s the box at the top-right corner of every ‘Computer’ window. Uninstall all others. These especially include Nero’s built-in search program and Microsoft’s Search 4.0 add-in program, but slower machines also don’t do well with Google Desktop, and as of now, Copernic does not run properly in any 64-bit version of Windows. In general, remove every search program that you can’t live without.
     If you find one search program that you really must have, and there’s only one, OK, but be sure to set it to never index the computer during hours you’ll work on it–don’t rely on the defaults, which will set it to build indexes ‘during inactivity’ which means ‘as soon as I start typing, GO’.

Those are the most likely and the largest computer slowdowns on Windows systems. If the hardware remains in good shape, and you keep the installed software simple and small, most modern PCs can last seven years for internet surfing and email. And that’s what I always here from home users. It’s all they run. That, and Freecell, Picassa, and Hoyle Casino….
  
Still slow? It may be time to get expert help from a local computer tech. If you’re near Westminster, Maryland, call me. Elsewhere, take a look at ComputerRepairLocator.com to find a local repair shop.

Dear Friend–

I’ve received your latest forwarded message about the virus that is going to destroy the internet as we know it if we open that email with the urgent-sounding title. Please don’t forward these to anyone–they create FUD. That’s Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. They do nothing positive.

The message was, to begin with, old. When it was new, it had a few almost-true near-facts in it, like the name of a real email subject line. Everything beyond that was like listening to technology news on my local television news stations–it’s last week’s news, or last year’s news, with the important parts left out.

What you need to remember about forwarded messages that arrive in your mailbox is that they’ve generally been out and about being forwarded, for years. Decades, even–I’ve received forwarded jokes and cartoons that also showed up on my desk by fax in the 1990′s, and by interoffice photocopy-of-a-photocopy in the 1980′s. Forwarded emails are old, old, old.

And security news is meaningless after five days. All good antivirus software blocks every known threat that’s more than three days old. The bad guys know this, and they change their approaches to getting your system infected constantly, sometimes twice a day on some of the big families of rogue malware. Now, while there are bad emails going around that will infect your computer if you haven’t patched it, or that contain evil infectious links, the bad guys change the subject lines daily to keep their messages from being caught by SPAM filters, so trying to block them by not opening an email with a specific subject line isn’t remotely practical or safe.

So by forwarding this old message, you’re scaring people, and encouraging them to get their security news by watching for it to fall into their mailboxes from the sky. There are valid sources of security news, and forwarded email isn’t on the list.

Several points to keep in mind–every one of these tells you this is either a hoax or badly-reported ancient history:

• Microsoft and Norton don’t need your help to report news. For that matter, neither do CNN, Neiman Marcus, or Homeland Security.
• The message is undated.
• It asks you to forward the message.
• It claims knowledge from a credible source, but it’s a generic source that can’t be reached, like ‘Microsoft’ or ‘NBC’.

The best thing to do with these forwarded messages is to delete them. Don’t spread the FUD.

The REAL Microsoft security news is here:
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/default.aspx

The REAL security news from the US Department of Homeland Security is here:
http://www.us-cert.gov

And here’s an article by Rob Rosenberger on ‘False Authority Syndrome’, to help you recognize hoax emails:
http://vmyths.com/fas/

In the brave new world of always-online software, help files have changed. We used to write HLP files. Now, it’s compiled hypertext, or CHM files, or sometimes, it’s a web page, and not much else. Format shouldn’t affect function, but it does–the industry is getting horribly sloppy, and have forgotten that help files are about teaching, and are not about searching.
What has to be in Help?

A help file, regardless of the format, needs some basic structure. Certain questions have to be answered; they’re the same questions that applied in writing class. When writing Exposition, or writing that explains, or Reporting, writing about events, include as many of these as possible: Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How. Mostly, help files won’t include a lot of ‘why’, but try for all of them. When writing a help document, start with this outline, and expect to change the headings when it’s almost finished:

• What does the software do? Include a short description of what the software does. This isn’t a sales pitch–it’s an introduction to the software, what the workflow of the program is like, and what kind of projects are possible in the software.

• How do I get started? Include the simplest possible project, how to start creating a task, how to learn about the program, and how to save, export, publish, or display the finished task–not all of these apply to every program–choose the simplest case, and explain it.

• Where are the commands and functionality? Tell the user where you’ve hidden all that wonderful functionality, in toolbars, in the menus, in keyboard shortcuts.

• When do I use these menu choices? Include the basic sequence of steps in an introductory project.

• Why do I choose to do things this way? This is why your software matches the workflow for a specific task, best to follow a specific sequence, or it can be a description of several sequences of tasks that will work, using your software product.

• Who published it, and who are they? Include contact information, links to additional help, tutorials, and updates.

First things First

When writing step-by-step instructions, sequence is your top priority. Here’s a horrible example:

You can change the settings for communications. Check off “use alternate port” in options.

What’s wrong with that? Well, it’s vague–it doesn’t say why or when you would use these instructions. It’s out of sequence–the steps are not in the order that they become visible to a user; first list where to go, then what to do. Not what to do first and then where to go–that encourages reading backwards while the user skips forward for navigation, and back again for the option to click. Finally, it looks like the option doesn’t match the software menus, and it’s not totally clear what the menu names are labeled.

Try again:

When the software won’t connect to the remote server, an alternate port may be used. Go to the Tools menu, choose Options, and at “Use Alternate Port”, add a checkmark in the option box. Click OK to close the dialog.

What changed? First, there’s a short explanation of ‘what’ at the beginning–in real software documentation, it should be more specific. Second, the steps are strictly in the same order as a user would see them on-screen, and no steps are left out. Third, the name of the option is precisely the same as in the menu, including capitalization and underlined menu shortcut keys.

Advanced Topics

Here’s a far more complex example, taken from a WordPerfect Magazine article I wrote, way back in 1992, about creating greeting cards in WordPerfect:

Begin at the WordPerfect document screen. Press Format (Shift F8),
(2) Page, (7) Paper Size/Type, (2) Add, and (9) Other. Type ‘Card’ and press(Enter), then (8) Labels, (Y) Yes.
A new menu will appear for the label definition.

The format for magazine writing of this kind is extremely precise. Every menu label appears, with the shortcut key, and every keystroke is included, with enough information at the end to let the reader see that they’ve arrived at the right place.
This level of precision can add confusion when the program is translated. The number selections work in every language, but the letter options may not be consistent. Be careful when translating sequences of menu choices, or plan ahead during menu design to keep steps and shortcuts consistent in all languages.
Should you use this type of magazine style for help topics? On some topics, yes. Think of a short article, maybe a few paragraphs, for an extended example of how to do a task or create a project in your software. It’s a great introductory lesson, but include every step, and choose a very basic first project for the example.

Describe what Menu Options Do

I frequently wonder what a menu entry does in a program I’m trying out. I look for the matching entry in the help file. For example, under File, Export Stuff, I’ll find this:

Exports stuff in a file.

Wrong, on so many levels. First, it tells me nothing that isn’t already in the name of the menu entry. Second, it doesn’t tell me what or when or any of the other basic answers. Try again:

File, Export Stuff: Saves the current project in a special format that provides __fill-in benefit here__. The Stuff format is used for ___. This function is also known in other programs as ‘Save As’, ‘Publish To’, or ‘Send to a Service Company’.

Huh? What’s all that stuff in the last line for? Well, that fixes the next problem, of searching a help file for a function you know exists in a program, when you don’t know the name. It’s the elementary school complaint about dictionaries and spelling–“how can I look up the spelling if I can’t spell it?”

Well, when you search help for what you think an option or function is called, and don’t find it because the author has been very consistent in always calling an export an export, what happens? Not a whole lot, beyond thinking nasty thoughts. Telepathy doesn’t help; keywords do. Those alternate names are there for searching the help file by keyword.

In the Deep End without a Paddle

Many programs now have only hypertext help with search, and no table of contents. It’s very Wiki, and worthless for learning a new program. In these monsters, you can press F1 for help, and if anything happens at all, there’s a pop-up of search titles related to a topic. It should be a topic related to the screen that was displayed when F1 was pressed. That’s ideal, and that was the standard form of help, 10 years ago.

But now, too many programs display nothing but pages and pages of unfiltered word matches for every attempt to search. Make sure that the novice-level information doesn’t get buried; the users that need advanced help know how to search, and are already sold on using your program. Novice users don’t know your program, may not have bought it yet, and are easily discouraged. Keep it simple for them–quick help searches should lead to intro-level topics, and then to advanced, and not just dive into the greatest possible depths of trouble-shooting chit-chat.

No matter what the format of the help documents, include a table of contents or a good index, include an introductory lesson, and remember that help isn’t a list of dialog box names–it’s a directory of how to use your software product.

Jerry Stern is the editor of ASPects, the ASP’s Coordinator of Anti-SpywareOperations, runs Startupware.com and WordPerfect.org, and is online at www.PC410.com.

At scan time, here’s what was found (Scan by AVG antivirus 8.0):
Virus:
C:\Program Files\WinDefender 2008\Uninstall.exe
Classified as ‘Trojan horse SHeur.BZLW’

Adware:
C:\Downloads\SetupGamevance.exe
Classified as ‘Potentially harmful program Downloader.QN’
(2 copies found)

I see no proof that Gamevance is pushing WinDefender 2008. Or not. But here’s the scenario: The machine passed all scans the day before the rogue appeared. So either they showed up on the same day, arrived in each other’s company, or were both hidden by active malware. Assuming simultaneous infections is a big assumption. Caution is indicated with any site paid for by installing software, as usual.

But maybe they’re done something right. Never know. Random roll of the dice, and all that. The Vostro will, according to the press release from July 10th, be somewhat free of what they’re calling Trialware.

New York, July 10, 2007

Dell today extended its commitment to customers with a new brand of notebook and desktop computers designed for small businesses. The VostroTM branded products feature no trialware and simple to use tools that address top-of-mind problems such as data back-up, PC performance and health, and specialized networking support for customers without dedicated IT staff.

The Vostro (Latin for “yours”) product and services family is a milestone in the company’s strategy to reduce the cost, time and complexity of managing information technology for customers of all sizes.

OK, now this sounds good. Then again, they don’t really understand what their customers want:

Regardless of geography, small businesses told Dell that tools to help accomplish common, time-consuming tasks associated with backing up data and optimizing system performance, and easy support options rank among their top IT needs. To address these needs, Vostro customers receive automated support tools customized for small business at no additional cost for the first year (minimal charges may apply in some countries).

The tools include Dell Automated PC Tune-Up, which reduces more than 30 tuning, performance, security and maintenance tasks to one click; Dell Network Assistant, which simplifies the set-up, monitoring, troubleshooting and repair of a customers’ network; and Dell DataSafe Online for online backup of up to 10GB of user data and protects against data loss resulting from disasters, theft or damage.

Translation: Dell isn’t going to include Trialware, which is the word they’re using to describe free trial software that they get paid for any time a PC user clicks through and buys, upgrades, or views ads from the icons and pre-installed software on all their other machines. Instead, they’ll provide up to one-year versions of their own private-label clutter that changes standard Windows functionality to favor their own system, and auto-runs at startup. Prices for these “solutions” after the first year’s free trial weren’t announced.

Good? Well, maybe. Depends on implementation. If the startupware they install is designed to work together, it’s a smaller burden on the system than the usual combination of startupware, trialware, and bloat. But calling these boxes ‘clean’ would still be false–they’re still loading products beyond Windows and hardware drivers.

Have you bought a Vostro? Post a comment back and report if the configuration is an improvement.

More information: Here is Dell’s press release.

News.com

Other news reports have been identifying this stuff as ‘craplets’ or ‘crap applets’. Some craplets are also startupware, if they’re pre-loaded software that runs at startup. Not all. Some craplets are just desktop icons to advertising links. There’s no programming code there, so it’s just a link to delete, and not startupware.

Data backups are still a great idea. That is, if you can talk Windows into keeping all your business data in one place that isn’t on the C: drive, then that’s great, and easy. I do that here; all my data is on a D:\ partition of the hard drive, and I have a batch file that I run before major backups that copies my Internet Explorer shortcuts from c:\Documents and Settings (etc, etc, etc…) over to a folder on d:. Then I burn an uncompressed DVD disk, and store that away.

And then there’s the operating system itself. For that, the best bet is a disk image program. A disk image program creates a compressed snapshot of a drive, usually created from a boot disk or CD, and some burn it directly to multiple DVDs. Ghost is the best known of these programs, but there are others, including some from ASP authors. With an up-to-date disk image, restoring an entire partition or drive takes only a few minutes.

All right, so those steps are all very traditional, and bring us up to around 2003. And then came spyware and adware. When an adware infection gets past your software blocks, it can suddenly bring along dozens of its cousin programs, and it may not be possible to start any software for burning a new data backup. An image program is still a good idea at this point, to be sure that no data is lost during the cleanup process, but that’s not prevention.

So just what will you need to have ready to do a spyware cleanup? As a cleanup technician, I would just love to have a process list of the computer as it was when it was built or when it was known to be clean. That’s a list of every program that autoruns on the system. That would save a lot of searches; the automated cleanup tools are good, but everything that depends on a detection database is out-of-date 100% of the time, and if there is a list of what should be on the system, everything else can be removed.

Method 1, rough but helpful: Press Control-Alt-Delete, go to the task list for processes, press Alt-PrintScreen (nothing will appear to happen), exit the task list, go a word processing program or a good graphics application, and paste the new image of the task list, and then print it. If the list was too long to fit on one screen, be sure to repeat the process, after scrolling down
in the task list, and capture all the entries.

Method 2, more complete, but requires special software. Download the latest version of “HijackThis”. It doesn’t need installation; you can run it from a USB pocket drive. Although this is a cleanup program, it is also useful to use to create a record of your startup processes, and it is much, much more complete than the printout from Task Manager–it includes startup entries and registry keys affecting startups and security settings for Internet Explorer; not just Windows. Run the program, tell it to scan and create a log file, and print the log file.

Don’t rely on saving these lists; you’ll want a printout during any cleanup, and when you really need the lists, you probably won’t be able to print them.

All this is part of the general security environment we have now. Windows, by cause of its evolution from DOS and Windows 3.1 through to 32-bit code, has had a long-standing tradition of no code left behind. All the old stuff runs, if it doesn’t involve graphics or peripherals. But the result is patch recalls on patches to patches. And the spyware issue is just a commercial method of doing what big business always does: it waits until a new industry gets big enough to be profitable, and then it finds a way to monetize it. Right, monetize was not a word until recently, but now that’s what we do to make money on information web sites–we add ads to it. So that’s what is happening now–spyware is the venture capital approach to making money from computer viruses and trojans, by using them to distribute and display advertising. Some of you have already seen my earlier post on the definition of startupware, but I’ll review the main one here:

stÃrt’-up-wÃre, noun, any software that configures portions of itself to automatically start with the operating system of a computer, or to start with other previously-installed software. Startupware isn’t automatically good or evil, useful, or destructive. The definition is based on easily-verifiable action, mostly during installation, and never on the contents of license agreements, external documents, or off-site servers. It autoloads, or it doesn’t.

So startupware is a bigger category than spyware. It includes everything that autoplays. That means spyware, adware, viruses, trojans, toolbar accessories, system tray utilities, application software pre-loaders, application software phonehome-for-any-reason applets, and hardware drivers that substitute software for chips. Everything that autoplays that is not part of a default operating system configuration. Every program, process, or browser trigger. Everything in that category slows down our computers, most of it is installed by silent default, and most of it should be removed. I don’t need five autostart entries to run a color inkjet, thanks, anyway. No, I don’t want an autostart program to upload my photographs to the web. No, I don’t want a daily update check on checkbook software that’s five years and six versions out of date.

The problem is that even retail boxed software is getting into adware behavior in a big way, and if you buy a notebook computer, expect to spend hours unweaving a web of autoplaying software, all of which was installed without permission, where most does nothing for you–it just loads and tries to sell you wireless access subscriptions, or web photo service, or online this, and more of that. It’s a mess, and messes need management.

And of course, there is always the free antivirus software that doesn’t detect spyware, because the adware publisher has threatened legal action if the antivirus vendor dares to label it with such an evil label. The result is that on any one computer, we need to have antivirus software, antispyware software, popup blocker software, patches, more patches, and so on. And on. This model is too profitable for the publishers, and for me, too. I clean this stuff up, and charge by the hour. I and my clients would rather that I be paid for setting up new computers and new productivity tools, and not all this cleanup. But the tools are scattered.

OK, so what’s the programming challenge? Simple enough: create a startupware management and cleanup tool. Such a program would include these features:

Record all currently-running programs and processes for comparison on next run, including full file paths, where applicable.

Record user comments for all entries, such as “camera software–”only needed for cable sync”

Report all startupware currently set to run on the system.

Report all startupware that’ new since the last run, with options to remove it, add it to a commented ‘OK’ list, or add it to an ‘unknown, pending identification’ list.

Must be usable in safe mode.

Optional features:

Scan for viruses, trojans, and other malware based on a list of known bad products.

Block installation of startupware, with an option to add a new entry and comment to the ‘OK’ list.

Now, chunks of these programs exist. There are startup managers–that’s the closest category. But the programs currently out there can’ be used by anyone with less training than a system tech. You have to already know what every program is before you can do much of anything. Surprisingly, the closest program I’ve seen to a startupware manager is Microsoft’s MSconfig.exe. It doesn’t uninstall startupware, but it lists settings, and can temporarily block programs. There’s no record of previous settings, or commenting features.

A startupware manager is not antistartupware. Remember, startupware is neither good nor evil. Some users want popups of weather alerts. Some need reminders to get up and stretch. Some may need their software to be no more than 1 hour out of date. Well, very few, but some.

I’ll give a free mention here to at least the first five startupware managers that I find about that match the definition above, and that are usable by average computer end-users.

The problem is two-fold. First, some spyware, and malware in general, disables the automatic update features of Windows. That keeps the early infectors from getting booted out of a computer when the patches arrive, because they won’t.

Second, Microsoft added a feature to Windows Update some months back that confirmed that the copy of Windows being updated was “genuine.” While I understand why–I’m a software publisher myself, after all–the Windows authentication program was designed to be politically correct, badly. It asks permission to check your Windows for authenticity, so the automatic update fails, and does so silently. To run it, you have to go to Windows Update (in the Tools menu of Internet Explorer), do an update run manually, and approve the installation and the running of the tool. Then go back to Windows Update and search for updates AGAIN, and you’ll probably find new patches that became available once Windows was validated as genuine.

So the moral of the story is to check Windows Update manually around once a month, after the second Tuesday, and see if the updates installed. More than half the machines I’ve checked manually in the last month needed manual patching, even though automatic updates were turned on.

While you’re checking software, check that antivirus programs and everything else are updating as designed. Don’t be a target–software, like people, does what you inspect, not what you expect.

Remember that this stuff isn’t all spyware; it includes antivirus software, overly-ambitious print drivers, and it’s not all evil, although most of it is bad, all of it need managing.

What’s that? Antivirus is never bad? Wrong. If in doubt, install two of them on a clean system, and try to do some work. Be sure to refresh your memory on safe-mode cleanups first, as most combos of this type will turn a computer into a vibrating doorstop. Like all startupware, it’s a management task.

To help consumers decide what products may be allowed on their systems, a scoring method is helpful. Scores skip technobabble–that’s good. They also can cause a blanket reaction of “take out all of it, don’t bother me.” That’s usually OK, but I don’t want the phone call when that breaks the antivirus software.

The basis for using startupware as a management tool for software products and their accumulations of autoplays is that no judgement calls are allowed. Again, here is the definition:

stärt’-up-wãre, noun, any software that configures portions of itself to automatically start with the operating system of a computer, or to start with other previously-installed software.

Now, there are different ways to autostart, and it helps to know if a product cleans up its own mess on removal, so let’s find a way to score a program for startupware.

First, we need to keep track of how many programs are set to run on system startup, and if all of them are removed on uninstallation. If one program is installed, but results in two add/remove program entries, that’s backpackware, which is common in adware and spyware products, as well as simpler trojan horse programs.

Here’s a preliminary formula for Startupware scoring (version 0.1) .

Orphaned programs: 1000 x number of programs installed to autorun but not uninstalled by removing the product that was chosen to be installed. Note that one install program that results in two or more product installations will always result in a high score for deceptive behavior. Exception: One install that offers to run an additional OPTIONAL install program is counted as more than one install program, so that, for example, a camera driver install that offers to install a graphics program is counted and scored as two installations.

Orphaned settings and silent programs: 100 x number of settings changes made, but not uninstalled, and number of programs that run when product isn’t doing work for the user, such as displaying information or being on standby to do or prevent something.

Autorun count: 10 x number of programs installed to autorun.

Settings count: 1x Number of settings changes made.
comma, “version” and number of program, or “tested” and 6-digit date downloaded (yymmdd) if no version number is used.

So for some program categories, it’s impossible to have score of 0, which would be totally non-invasive and non-autoplaying; a screensaver would have a score of 11, minimum, and so would most system tray utilities, because it takes both a program and a setting change to have an autoplaying program. And some actions aren’t counted. There is no count of icons added to the desktop, the quicklaunch area, or to the menus. There is no count of file extensions modified to point to the new program.

Here are some examples: a toolbar program, with no version number, with one program running in the background while the toolbar was not on screen (100 points). It made 12 changes to system settings, and failed to uninstall 1 of them (12 + 100 points). Total 212 points.
Score: 212, tested 050825.

Example 2: a utility program, installs two programs that don’t autoplay and don’t run in the background, changes no settings, leaves no settings or programs behind, version number 2.1.
Score: 0, version 2.1.

Example 3: an application program, version 12.0. Installs 17 programs, 3 autoplaying. Uninstalls all of them. Makes 32 settings changes, removes 12 of them. (Typical big-product sloppyness, in short.) That’s 30 points for autoplays, 32 for settings, 2000 for orphaned settings, and no orphaned programs.
Score: 2062, version 12.0.

Note that spyware won’t always get the highest scores. Startupware is about invasive software that drags down system performance, and not about subtlety or theft.

Example 4: a screensaver, no version number, downloaded Sept 10, 2005. Installs one autoplay program, clean uninstall, one setting change that runs the screensaver.
Score: 11, tested 050910.

Example 5: printer driver, version 18.544. Installed 3 autoplays, left one behind on uninstall, 71 settings changes, 26 left behind. That’s 1000 + 2600 + 30 + 71
Score: 3701, version 18.544.

Example 6: anti-spyware program, bundled with toolbar with no option to install only one, installed with one program but resulting in two entries in add/remove list. That’s backpack startupware, and if no permission was asked first, it’s stealth startupware. Determining Stealth or Backpack isn’t needed–it depends on disclosures and agreements, and doesn’t affect product behavior, and so doesn’t affect scoring. There are 3 autoplays, and the uninstall that matches the downloaded product removes one of them. Settings changes: 15, 10 left behind. That’s 2000 points for orphaned programs, 1000 points for orphaned settings, 30 points for autoplays, and 15 points for settings.
Score: 3045, tested 050901.

Essentially, what we’re trying to achieve is a high score for programs that fail to uninstall themselves completely, or that massively invade the system. In other words, don’t install a program with a score above 50.

Comments? Additions? Modifications?