Foo - So, you're buying via the Internet for the Holidays?

Okay-
My little tips for the holiday:
download the following freewares to ensure you are as secure as possible:

Ad Aware-
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
I just used this...found out I had 6 scripts watching my browser waiting to 'hijack it.' Whatever. This stuff works. Get it here:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/support/download/

Another option is SpyBot, which I also run:
http://www.safer-networking.org/
download here:
http://www.safer-networking.org/index.php?lang=en&page=download
yet another way to wipe clean the drive and registry of unwanted BS.

Need a firewall?(don't be stupid, we all do)
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/home.jsp
Zone Alarms is free! Download here:
http://www.zonelabs.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp?lid=pdb_za1
this is for the basic version.

Protect what you can. Scrub your computer as often as possible (no, not with Mr. Clean and a Brillo pad). People can log keystrokes, people can get your personal info, and worst of all, it will all come back to you. Not to induce binary paranoia, just want those who don't know that it is time they did!
Make sure you read through the documentation before running these on your system. You look at the tube size before you buy it, right?
Happy Holidays

PS> for the wanna be geeks in all of us:
http://grc.com/freepopular.htm

kinda neat stuff. I use the LeakTEST and ShootTheMessenger (god I hate that phrase...)
Okay...I am a closet dork. Now go away before I log your IP
ha ha ha...just kidding

A few things to add...

Update your antivirus software:virus can do all sorts of mean things. Click the button that says update.

Be smart: if you didn't solicite an e-mail and you're not familiar with the sender, don't respond, ESPECIALLY not with personal information.

A particular notice: the mimail virus pretends to be a legitimate mailing from the popular online payment service Paypal. If you're infected, it prompts you for credit card information. More information and removal instructions for this and just about any other virus/worm/trojan I've run into can be found at http://symantec.com.

Like they said in the GI Joe PSA's when I was little, "Knowing is half the battle." :D

or just get a Mac

or just get a Mac

:rolleyes:

I'll personally vouch for Zone Alarm. It will ask you anytime ANY software wants to access the net. It's surprising the crap that gets in sometimes...

or just get a Mac

I'm not sure how a raincoat will help. ;)

I suppose it wouldn't do much good without some rubbers

I suppose it wouldn't do much good without some rubbers

Thats what I say bpractice safe web surfing

Thats what I say bpractice safe web surfing

Yeah. You don't want an infected disk.

I just uninstalled Internet Explorer from my parents computer; Ad Aware found lots of stuff (and on mine, 300 something).

I'm using Mozilla Firebird to prevent the IE exploits, but oh well.

or just get a Mac

They still make those? :eek: ;) :D

Yeah. You don't want an infected disk.

Its amazing the way some people will plug their device into any old port these days

Quote by Istanbul_Tea:

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Originally Posted by temp1
or just get a Mac
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They still make those?

Yeah...haven't you been to the land of the Golden Arches recently? :D

Just kidding...I grew up learning programming/computing on an Apple, but then switched to an IBM because there weren't a lot of good programs for it. I realise it's a lot better for sounds and graphics than most similar priced PCs, at least to some people.

~James~