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Post by tjaman on Jul 12, 2005 1:02:57 GMT -5
I'm looking forward to having no issues with spyware or viruses or anything. [boy scout] I faithfully pledge with my new computer to use Firefox/Mozilla and anti-spyware and anti-virus programs and regularly update my Windows programming. [/boy scout]
That being said, my sister, a technophile neo-Luddite, said that installing Flash on my system so as to run TV.com (which is what's standing in the way of me logging on over there right now) was the equivalent of posting all of my personal information online for the entire world to effortlessly see -- socsec, credit card, home address, mother's maiden name, etc. etc. etc.
Which is interesting since my computer probably won't know these things.
She also said that having an account with Amazon.com where they had my credit card on file was buying every online hacker his or her own yacht.
Which interested me, because if that was true, then everyone who listens to NPR, pretty much, has essentially signed over their economic identities to hackerdom.
Which would make the American economy implode. Violently.
So I'm thinking that that's not true.
Am I being Pollyannish? Or is she being paranoid?
My tech support guy at work said to maintain the updates, use Firefox/Mozilla, install and run a few anti-spyware and anti-virus programs at regular intervals, don't open dubious e-mails, don't visit illegal file-swapping sites (he mentioned kazaa by name), only visit reputable sites and I shouldn't have a problem.
My sister doesn't have any problems and she does visit file-swapping sites, so ...
... I think she's overreacting. I think that TV.fraud, for all of the problems I have with it, is a perfectly straightforward site. If it wasn't, quite a large number of people would be having more serious problems. Shockwave/Flash is just a piece of graphics management software, as far as I can tell.
Also, she said, my current system at home here is just clogged with spyware, and I'm entirely unaware of what kind of impact that's having.
What kind of impact can I anticipate it would be having?
And ... [nervously] when I order something from amazon.com, is my secure connection a lot less secure than I think it is? [/nervously]
Hate to sound like such a n00b about these things -- and I really apologize about breaking in here with all of this, Py -- but ...
... it'll be a brand spankin' new system and I don't want to corrupt the crap out of it just by logging on for the first time.
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Post by Rebelman on Jul 12, 2005 1:09:34 GMT -5
I haven't had any issues with TV.com and I don't even have spyware or anti virus programs. It uploads and runs fine with me and the other forums I am apart of work fine for me. i guess it depends on your C Hard drive and the installed components you have.
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Post by tjaman on Jul 12, 2005 1:30:18 GMT -5
Congrats on a great show tj. Glad it all went well for you.
Thanks! It was actually kind of nice not having any theater stuff to do tonight. I luxuriated in all of my free time. I went to the Y and then took a nap and watched "The Closer" and I walked on my feet and heard with my ears and actually had a chance to visit Randy's site once, and then caught bits and pieces of "Bedazzled" with Brenden Frasier and Elizabeth Hurley, and I don't know where all the negative reviews are coming from. The bits I saw were quite enjoyable (I will put Elizabeth Hurley in that naughty schoolgirl outfit up against many, many scenes from modern cinema).
Time for bed, however. Tomorrow night we have our cast party at our director's house and I'm going to see "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abriged)" at the college, so will be missing out on "Rescue Me," but I'm looking forward to seeing it on tape when I get home.
And church meeting Wednesday night instead of "The Inside."
DANG IT! Even when I'm not on stage my life conspires against me to make me miss out on my shows and be social.
Oh well ... I'll watch the for-all-practical-purposes series finale of "The Inside" when I get home.
Catch y'all later.
P.S. -- I missed you too, Cordy.
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Post by GreatMuppetyNick on Jul 12, 2005 1:35:54 GMT -5
I'm looking forward to having no issues with spyware or viruses or anything. [boy scout] I faithfully pledge with my new computer to use Firefox/Mozilla and anti-spyware and anti-virus programs and regularly update my Windows programming. [/boy scout]
That being said, my sister, a technophile neo-Luddite, said that installing Flash on my system so as to run TV.com (which is what's standing in the way of me logging on over there right now) was the equivalent of posting all of my personal information online for the entire world to effortlessly see -- socsec, credit card, home address, mother's maiden name, etc. etc. etc.
Which is interesting since my computer probably won't know these things.
She also said that having an account with Amazon.com where they had my credit card on file was buying every online hacker his or her own yacht.
Which interested me, because if that was true, then everyone who listens to NPR, pretty much, has essentially signed over their economic identities to hackerdom.
Which would make the American economy implode. Violently.
So I'm thinking that that's not true.
Am I being Pollyannish? Or is she being paranoid?
My tech support guy at work said to maintain the updates, use Firefox/Mozilla, install and run a few anti-spyware and anti-virus programs at regular intervals, don't open dubious e-mails, don't visit illegal file-swapping sites (he mentioned kazaa by name), only visit reputable sites and I shouldn't have a problem.
My sister doesn't have any problems and she does visit file-swapping sites, so ...
... I think she's overreacting. I think that TV.fraud, for all of the problems I have with it, is a perfectly straightforward site. If it wasn't, quite a large number of people would be having more serious problems. Shockwave/Flash is just a piece of graphics management software, as far as I can tell.
Also, she said, my current system at home here is just clogged with spyware, and I'm entirely unaware of what kind of impact that's having.
What kind of impact can I anticipate it would be having?
And ... [nervously] when I order something from amazon.com, is my secure connection a lot less secure than I think it is? [/nervously]
Hate to sound like such a n00b about these things -- and I really apologize about breaking in here with all of this, Py -- but ...
... it'll be a brand spankin' new system and I don't want to corrupt the crap out of it just by logging on for the first time. Yeah, I'd say she's a tad paranoid. Awareness of the dangers of internet is all well and fine, but to bring it to such extremes...
A couple of things to keep in mind: 1. It's usually your fault when you do get virusses or spy-wares. These mal-wares can't really install themselves without your consent. Be aware of sites prompting you to install this or that to make it work. Make sure that it's something you really need before you click on "yes". Google is a big help here
2. Flash is a pain-in-the-ass, in terms of the amount of memory they use; and in the fact that it allows people with no concept of design and layout to torture us with "graphics". It does not, however, automatically installs mal-wares, nor retrieve your information. See no. 1
3. Giving information online is an issue of trust. How much can you trust the guys you're giving the information to will respect your privacy. Generally, most of the bigger sites (IE. Amazon, E-bay, etc.) can be trusted, because their reputation is generally more important to them than the paltry amount they can get for selling your information.
4. Nothing in life is free, and this applies to the web as well. The biggest culprits on mal-ware are sites that claim to give stuff free. This includes crack sites, file-sharing, etc. This is not saying that you can't visit these sites, but if you don't know what you're doing, don't.
5. The effects of having a spy-ware infested machine varies on the types of spy-ware you have. Some are just annoying (automatically redirecting you to a page, or installing some toolbars), and some are deadly (gives out private information, key-logging, etc.)
6. Finally, no amount of protection you have is gonna guarantee you 100% spyware free. Just be cautious, and remember rule 1.
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Post by Darkchylde on Jul 12, 2005 4:57:37 GMT -5
Why do we have a new Caritas?
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Post by tjaman on Jul 12, 2005 6:57:11 GMT -5
It's not, really. It's a joke Caritas, and it's quite clever, if you READ BACK.
I'm afraid I started using it as though it was a real Caritas and I've ruined Py's joke.
Nick: I've got a prompt that comes up on my machine when software is trying to install, and most of the time, unless I'm updating something and generally that's deliberate, I say no, so I feel like I'm somewhat protected.
"crammed" full of spyware ...
I'm ... unconvinced.
Thank you, btw. That was most helpful.
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Post by Aunt Arlene on Jul 12, 2005 7:25:47 GMT -5
Py answering questions from the future would make a good thread. So tell us Py, do the Cubs ever win the World Series?
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Post by PyleansDontLeaveMe on Jul 12, 2005 9:30:52 GMT -5
I'm sorry, no.
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Post by PyleansDontLeaveMe on Jul 12, 2005 9:31:25 GMT -5
I'll unpin this one- Clearly I did not have enough to do yesterday at work.
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Post by tjaman on Jul 12, 2005 10:58:02 GMT -5
Who was the first woman president?
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Post by PyleansDontLeaveMe on Jul 12, 2005 11:22:39 GMT -5
Eh. Some Lesbian.
Women were of course outlawed completely in the year 225penis, after everyone was forced to become gay
They've since become something of an historical curiousity
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Post by tjaman on Jul 12, 2005 11:31:02 GMT -5
As well they might be.
According to what archives should be available: "'Women' performed largely useful functions until one day in 1967 when they became uppity."
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Post by PyleansDontLeaveMe on Jul 12, 2005 11:33:19 GMT -5
That's what it says in my occipapedia.
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Post by tjaman on Jul 12, 2005 11:37:59 GMT -5
None of my smilies seem to be working, or you'd see that there was an lol smiliey after that comment.
* so much do I love Py that I almost feel rude pointing out that base-11 numbers look smaller than base-10. "10" in base-11 is, in fact, eleven things, "100" is 121 things, and so forth *
As you were. I'm pretty sure I've lost you at "121 things" anyway.
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Post by PyleansDontLeaveMe on Jul 12, 2005 11:42:18 GMT -5
I know, I was trying to make sense of the initial '250 years since the last ep of ANgel aired, comment.
It may have gotten muddied...
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