OFF TOPIC

[Dolores Lindvall]

I didn't know anything about this till last nightwhen Taylor had to get my computer up and going again. Hedownloaded a program from the internet.....free.....calledZoneAlarm. Right now, the announcements are driving me a bitnutty, but they disappear instantly when you click onthem.....unlike those unwanted, annoying (to the point of throwing thecomputer out the window!) ads. And if you click on "moreinfo" on the announcement, you can see which port on your computer wastargeted. So far, since I started writing them down, port 137is ahead of port 139 by 5 to 1.

If you haven't heard about this, and would like to check it out, justtype "zonealarm" in your browser, and it will takeyou to asite that will take you to the site where you can downloadit. Taylor has it onhis. He builds computers fromscratch.

It had gotten so bad that I couldn't even read anything in here withoutthe screen suddenly filling with something I did not want to see.

Just thought I'd mention it.

- Dolores

 

[pamnock]

Good advice Dolores! You can also cutdown on cookies by choosing an option on internet explorer (undertools) to prompt every time a cookie tries to download. Youcan permanently block undesirable pop-ups.

Spysweeper is also a good free program to delete cookies, spyware and adware (one of the sources of extensive pop-ups).

We rarely get pop-ups on the computer anymore, where before it wasgetting to the point we could hardly use the computer as it had sloweddown so badly.



Pam

 

[Dolores Lindvall]

I know about how slow it got. Icould have personally run to the east coast with a message faster thanI was able to get one before. And, my old, borrowed computeris running way faster than it ever has! This pop up adstuff wasn't around so much 4 1/2 to 5 years ago when I used to come inhere. Boy! A person sure can learn something newevery day!

- Dolores

 

[Aradon]

Indeed, pop-ups are an extreme annoyance howeverthe only true effective way to block them is with an internet securityprogram such as Norton, i have this and have not once had apop-up. Blocking cookies also works but can unfortunatleystop some sites from working altogether.

The need to protect yourself has now grown to a new level, cybercriminals are always thinking of new ways to get toyou.They now use pop-ups. They targetpopular sites such as banks and auction sites etc, when the page isloaded a pop-up appears which is pre-loaded with a trojan virus which,when you go to close the pop-up, is activated and attempts to installintself on your machine. This program is generally akeystroke recorder which records every single button you press, andthen sends the recorded info to the criminals who put it there, whothen search the data for bank details.

Best way to protect yourself against this is to update all virusdefinitions and if you use windows update it with the latest securitypatches.

 

[pamnock]

There's an option on OE that allows you to "pickand choose" your cookies. Everytime one tries to load on yourcomputer, you can set it to prompt and ask if you want it.You can choose to always accept certain cookies from your favoritesites, and alway deny certain cookies -- this is used as well as the"cookie" setting on IE.

As Ryan mentioned, a program with a firewall (like Norton or McAfee, etc.) is the best way to go.

To use the cookie prompt in MS Internet Explorer -- click on Tools,Internet Options, Privancy Settings, Advanced then choose "over rideautomatic cookie handling" and select both of the "prompt"options. This will alert you to cookies on websites and youcan choose to deny them.

Pam

 

[pamnock]

Also a threat are the "hijacker" programs thatliterally hijack your computer, change your homepage, your settings andbring up porn pages. I had that happen and it wasawful!!! There should be stiff penalties for that type ofprogram -- I have kids using the computer :X



Pam

 

[Dolores Lindvall]

Got Norton. Phone company/internetserver has McAfee. So, whatever comes in here has to havemade it thru the server's net first. This zonealarm isa firewall, from what I can understand reading about it. Ihad quite a few instances where something came in and changed mybrowser...not to porn, but just a darn bunch of advertising.And for some reason, I could barely navigate this forum for all the"crap" coming in. I don't bank, or do any other kind ofbusiness over the internet, and do not plan to ever do so. Ijust do not trust it!

- Dolores

 

[DaisyNBuster]

pamnock wrote:

Alsoa threat are the "hijacker" programs that literally hijack yourcomputer, change your homepage, your settings and bring up pornpages. I had that happen and it was awful!!! Thereshould be stiff penalties for that type of program -- I have kids usingthe computer :X



Pam

My Mum has had this problem withthis hijacker program,itput all porn in her favourites. It issickeninglike you said, thereare myyoungersisters and even Alyssa sits with us while we are onthe computer - its just not what I want my 2 year old to be seeing!

Vickie

 

[Pepper]

HI! Everyone

I use Norton Internet Security and I like it.It also comes with theNorton antivirus.I used to have the free zonealarm downloaded,but Ididn't like it.

 

[pamnock]

DaisyNBuster wrote:

My Mum has had this problem withthis hijacker program,itput all porn in her favourites. It issickeninglike you said, thereare myyoungersisters and even Alyssa sits with us while we are onthe computer - its just not what I want my 2 year old to be seeing!

Vickie

Yes! It did the same thing on my favorites -- I was shocked when I saw the nasty stuff listed on my favs list

It also deleted all my email info from outlook express including account info and address book.

Pam