Like the Matrix, What is Real?

I post this to all the Major Geeks, as I'm at a loss for what to believe. For the past few years, I've been an avid watcher of the Major Geeks forums. Things I see make sense and when get a chance to try something a Major Geek suggested, I never have a doubt that it will work flawlessly. Here's is where I'm going.

While I know its been an issue, I've noticed more so recently that our beloved Malware Crime Fighter Team can't keep up with the amount of Malware help that is requested of them. So I set out to begin my Jedi training to become a Malware Removal expert of my own. Following the suggestion of the Sticky, I researched the several Malware Schools that were suggested, and GeekU seemed like the place I'd begin my training as they seemed to have a sophisticated and more structured approach, but tools others didn't (such as "Check my Post"). So I submitted my application and am waiting approval.

While I've been awaiting approval since Friday, I was poking through their site, preparing myself for what their techniques were, as I know each has their own opinions. While looking through their site, I began to get suspicious of what I ventured into. Some things are the same, such as Malwarebytes (which I think is the gold standard at this point) but other things are extremely scarey to me. Their recommendation for stopping programs in startup is MSCONFIG. They recommend using Windows cleanup and windows defrag, when I know from personal experience and from here that there are far better programs to do this than Windows.

I know it was very long winded for such a simple concern. I'm a little concerned about the course I have recently applied to at this point if they are using MSCONFIG to control start-up items. Anyone give me some friendly advice, or what course any one has been through that they recommend?

 

And from my reading of it, they are recommending to using msconfig as a long term method to speed up your computer by shutting off startup programs. Just seems scarey to me.

And I guess that makes sense. I guess I would have just thought a technical forum would have more efficient recommendations.