Posted on 07/02/2005 11:27:16 AM PDT by BJungNan
If you use a computer for nothing but internet, redoing everything will only take about thirty minutes
perhaps
Better than get a "second computer", set up a small second virtual pc using one of the VM software packages such as Microsoft's.
Thanks for the explanation. I was under the impression that your IP address, open ports, CLSIDs, etc., wouldn't change when you re-installed the image, and the machine would therefore look identical to anyone building a zombie database. If you're running nekkid, then getting the actual exploit onto your machine isn't the difficult part, right?
It is not quite that bad with pop-ups. I avoid sites that have many of them (like Drudge).
But, clicking away a pop up is a lot faster than slowing down your connection by filtering for them. In other words, do you slow down all traffic so you don't get a pop up or just click away the few that you do get.
I would rather run faster and click once in a while to get rid of the pop up window. With pop up blocker you are slowing all traffic as your connection deals with the stuff.
What are you trying to download to my system with that link? As soon as I clicked it, I got a message of a download about to happen.
It is not all that much trouble to reformat and reload. We are not talking a ton of programs to reinstall if you go with this idea. Basically you are turning your computer into a TV for the internet - that's what has you online 90% of the time.
As for email, better to use the free services for your email than to run on your own machine. I would never do that. Outlook is a virus magnet.
How many zombies and trojans stay on a machine after the hard drive has been reformated? I think you missed something there.
Try Ad Muncher. It works at a low level, uses only a small amount of memory, and stops the banner ads and popups before they download to your computer. Therefore web pages load faster, not slower.
Since I first installed it on this computer it has blocked 171,000 ads and saved 1.4 gigabytes of graphic ad files downloaded to the temp internet files. On many web pages the ads take longer to load than the substance.
As for the argument of this article, sure it's annoying to have to load antispyware programs, and they do use some memory, but your computer will slow down a lot more if you let the adware multiply on it.
Another stupid idea. I have a hardware firewall that doubles as a router ($80), MS (free) antispyware, AVG (free)antivirus, and I have no spyware, and no viruses. It also helps to use web based email.
This is hideously ignorant and irresponsible advice. Leaving your keys in the ignition is an actual crime in most states. Keys or no keys, leaving your car generally unsecured subjects you to lawsuits for creating an attractive nuisance. If you abandon your vehicle and some idiot gets himself killed joyriding in it, you can be held legally responsible for his death and the injuries he caused to others.
No kidding. "Running naked" is quite possibly the dumbest idea I've heard of to deal with spyware.
I like Drudge, however. Have him as my homepage. With FireFox I get no pop-ups
It should have opened media player and played the old song "The Streak". I don't know why it tried to download.
"...If you had nothing of value in your car, your car was a low cost clunker that no one would want, would you leave your doors locked? Of course not. No one is going to try and get in it..."
If it's a low cost clunker that runs can, someone would want it - it can be used as a getaway car in the commission of a crime.
Also, some people just like to vandalize and destroy things. People like this would get inside and just tear up whatever they could with a screwdriver or a knife or whatever just for the sheer joy of destroying another person's property.
That's the other reasons why you lock things up.
I wouldn't want my Internet PC to be hijacked and/or made to crank out malicious e-mail.
None, of course -- but with this "idea," and Windows, you'll be reformatting/reinstalling or restoring an image every 12 minutes, unless you enjoy having your machine used for nefarious purposes. On an older machine, you'll be spending far more time staring at progress bars than you will surfing -- all for the sake of speed?
This is the definitely the dumbest idea I've seen in quite a while.
I tried it and the Internet browsing speed is noticeably faster. Much faster. Why would that be?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.