Google Compute, or Freeper Team (vanity)

Google ^ | FreeAtlanta

[FreeAtlanta]

Google has a really cool feature as part of their new tool bar, the feature lets you help fight cancer, mad cow, Parkinson's and other ailments. It uses your computer to help scientist unfold proteins. Google Compute

However, there is a problem. If you use that feature, you contribute to Team Google Compute while you could be contributing to Free Republic Folders - A Tribute to Ronald Reagan. It is all part of the same distributive computing project through Stanford University.

To help our team, you need to download the secure, free and very small distributive software from Stanford Folding@Home, choose a screen name (many of us use our FreeRepublic screenID so it's easy to find us in our threads and can encourage each other through the folding points competition), turn off Google Compute, then install the distributive software (it comes in several choices: screen saver, console/process and for Windows, MacIntosh, or Linux). On initial startup, it will prompt you for your user name, team (use 36120) and some other simple config parameters. Now, you are folding!

Depending on your CPU speed and the size of the folding project, the fold could take from 1 day to several days. You can find our threads by using the FreeRepublic Search and the key word "folding".

[FreeAtlanta]

We have some super hero folding freepers who have more than 20 CPUs churning. Our current champion is Klutz_dohanger with over 300 CPUs! And, we have many side kicks with only 1 CPU! All are welcomed and needed. Currently, we have nearly 300 members. I joined two weeks ago and because I am blessed with a handful of computers, I am approaching the top 100 of our team. That is my immediate goal. I don't see ever getting close to our top 10 members, but I can dream :-)

Come join us, help humanity and learn more about computers. Many of the members are very helpful, and I have learned a lot in a few weeks.

[FreeAtlanta]

ping

[FreeAtlanta]

btw, I am not starting a new team thread, I am convinced that many Freepers are using Google Compute (tool bar feature) and wanted to help inform them to their options.

[processing please hold]

(waves hand) I'm here.

[abner]

Cool idea.

[HangThemHigh]

Hey you didn't mention how we are clobbering the DUmmies' folding 'team' while helping mankind. What a combo!

If you concerned about security, the risk is near zero.

The software uses very little memory and only takes CPU cycles when nothing else is using them. You'll probably never know it's running, other than the times you check on it (which if you're like me is pretty often).

[KarinG1]

I'd be happy to help out and usually have both bandwidth and processor cycles to spare but I'm leery of potential spyware. Does anybody know for sure if this is safe? I got infected once and have been very paranoid since. I know that the Google toolbar is spyware. You can actually find this out by Googling it.

[at bay]

Whyn would anyone in their right mind do any business with Google? What kind of "do no evil" company do you think this is? I suggest you adress this and not pretend that these concerns are not legitimate.

[joem15]

I don't want anybody or anything inside my computer doing something without my knowledge. As they say in the Middle East "Once the camels nose is in the tent, it's too late."

Once the camels nose is in your computer you will lose all of your privacy.

[ahayes]

If you'll allow a web browser on your computer, you don't have any reason not to install FAH. FAH can use the same ports that the browser uses to send and receive data. It connects only to the Stanford servers to download jobs and makes sure cores are digitally signed when they are downloaded. Then it sits there and folds and does not try to connect to the internet until its job is done, when it connects to the server again to upload the job. Security of the data stream is very important to Stanford as well. Folding data is worthless unless Stanford can be sure that the data was gathered accurately and not tampered with.

From the FAH FAQ:

What about security issues? We have worked very hard to maintain the best security possible with modern computer science methodology. Our software will upload and download data only from our data server here at Stanford. The Cores are also digitally signed (see below) to make sure that you're getting the true Stanford cores and nothing else.

How is this possible? We take extensive measures to check all of the data entering your computer and the results we send back to Stanford with 2048 bit digital signatures. If the signatures don't match (on either the input or the output) the client will throw away the data and start again. This ensures, using the best software security measures developed to date (digital signatures and PKI in version 3.0), that we are keeping the tightest possible security. Finally, the client/screen saver are available for download only from this web site, so that we can guarantee the integrity of the software. We do not support Folding@home software obtained elsewhere and prohibit others to distribute the software.

If you are concerned about security you can connect to the internet to allow the client to download a job and then disconnect. The program will finish the job and then wait for you to reconnect to the internet to upload the job and download the next.

[Drango]

There are several indirect answers to your security concerns. First, none of the 200+ FReepers "folding" have reported any concerns and many of the group can be described as "Ultra Geeks". Meaning they would know.

Second, some "Ultra Geek" corporations are partners in the effort

Third, a quick search of google doesn't show any threads rasing a security issue. Fold away! It's safe IMHO

[Jim Robinson]

And they give you your very own trojan horse for absolutely no extra charge. No thanks.

[FreeAtlanta]

I agree with you. I use Google, but can not stand them. I don't like that they give over 90% of their political donations to Democrats. I don't like that they seem to bias their search results to the left. And, I don't like their support of the Communist Chinese.

Those are major reasons why I want to move our fellow freepers off of Google Compute and onto the original Stanford software and our team. I would love to eventually gain on Google, but right now, they are the #2 team right behind the team of undeclared.

This software has nothing to do with helping Google. It is for helping humanity. In an odd way, I respect Google for contributing. Putting it in their tool bar was really smart, but they do have very smart developers... albeit, lefty commie pinko progressive socialists democrats.

[FreeAtlanta]

I understand your fear. I believe this is safe software, but I also understand your concerns.

Maybe if you have an old computer without any security concerns, you might consider hooking it up.

The Folding project is a worthy effort, and our efforts might one day extend the lives of a family member or one of ourselves.

[FreeAtlanta]

ahayes has an excellent point about connecting to let the packets through. Initially, I had ZoneAlarm (highly recommended for the security and privacy conscious) and it would prompt me to allow it to allow the folding application to contact the web.

[FreeAtlanta]

Thank you Jim, I appreciate you letting us use your web site. I don't believe Stanford has a trojan in the application, but I imagine it is possible.

You are a good man, and we all respect you and your efforts. FreeAtl

[KarinG1]

It only connects to the expected remote location when appropriate? I use a hardware firewall which means if I allow the wrong software to be installed I'm.... uhhh.... in trouble. I hate to seem like a... uhhh... bother, but I got in a lot of trouble when I let that spyware in before. I have an unused box though, I can set it up as a dedicated server and check it out. I'll do that in the A.M. Thanks for y'alls input. If I see any problems I'll post to this thread. Have a good weekend.

[texas booster]

Please give it a run on the back up system. Folding@Home does not open any new ports but uses existing ports to call home and report results. It really is innocuous.

I have used distributed programs for years, and F@H is safe and effective.

Thanks for your help!

[angry elephant]

I loaded this but inadvertently did not type in the group number. Now it is running and I am unable to find a spot to edit it.

Help!

[FreeAtlanta]

If you go to the directory where you installed Folding@Home (mine is C:/FoldingProject, but I don't think that is a default. I think I customized the location.) When you get to your folding directory, you should see a file called client or client.cfg. Open it using notepad, and change team=0 to team=36120. Then save the file. It will give our team credit when your pc completes the task. - Thanks and Welcome to the Team!

I included a couple of really good and long time folders in the ping list. They can help you, if you still have trouble.