Drop, charge, and lose the cords
Computer newbies: Newbie's shouldn't jump to Firefox Browser
what randomly fixed ie for me
by monkeyjoe - 10/16/05 2:14 AM In reply to: firefox or not to firefox by fancierquinnwhen ie wasnt working for me, i was messin around with different programs and downloaded the trial version of hide-ip platinum from download.com and installed it, then all the sudden ie started working again, although i still use firefox, besides, i like how in firefox clicking the scroll wheel opens the link into a new tab
"page cannot be found"
by Marv99 - 10/19/05 11:39 PM In reply to: firefox or not to firefox by fancierquinnInterestingly enough I have the same problem. This started when I switched to a different ISP. Before that I'd used AOL and rarely had that issue unless their domain server was glitching. Which did happen sometimes. However now I've changed to a cheaper ISP and get this problem everytime I surf. Often the page will even load then default to the ISPs search page with the now dreaded "page cannot be found" error but would I like to hit one of these links. All of the links appear to be pages that buy adds on this ISP. Now I knew I'd see some more adds when I went for a 10 buck ISP but I'd expected it to be a bit more straight forward. When I used AOL I used IE or Netscape outside AOL and haven't changed anything other than the browser changes the ISP made when installing itself. BTW the ISP has a nice popup blocker. Works real well except for this stupid search thing. Which I've tried to turn off in IE prefs. No luck. Maybe I should try Netscape.... Hummmmm.....
Good Show
by jayfin - 1/8/06 9:30 AM In reply to: Lack of objectivity on both sides by rmendoza13Very well stated - more light and less heat
Yeah
by ivan.icin - 10/14/05 2:41 PM In reply to: Its a SPAM or START AN ARGUMENT Post by dougjpClaiming just "some bugs" without being precize is not an argument.
I know some bugs with IE (for example, Work off-line menu dissapers in frequent situations), and I can show you 100% standards complaint page that not just fails to render with IE, but actually turns whole IE into gray box.
One good thing about Firefox is that it works side by side with IE. So if anyone has a problem as this user claims, he can switch back.
Uninformed post - my parents do fine with Firefox on Linux
by leobh - 10/15/05 5:08 AM In reply to: Its a SPAM or START AN ARGUMENT Post by dougjpIt's one thing having to deal with the fact that there are always going to be trolls who will make these kind of posts, but why the h*ll was this mentioned in the newsletter. I mean, the original poster doesn't make a single point about why new/less experienced computer users shouldn't use Firefox and is barely even comprhensible.
For G*d's sake, my parents have got on just fine using a *Linux* box that I set up for them, which they use for email (Thunderbird), web (and ecommerce - they get groceries delivered to the door) (Firefox) and for word processing (Ximianised OpenOffice.org (looks nicer :P ) ). GNOME confuses them a hell of a lot less than did Windows, and I don't have to constantly check the machine for viruses and spyware. This machine is running Gentoo of all things, and if anyone has the idea that multimedia is a problem, the machine has Flash, Java, Realplayer and the Mplayer plugin, which covers all the media formats you could ever need. And lets not forget, as well as being libre software, it's also all *free*.
LOL....agreed it's devil's advocacy
by supercourier - 10/22/05 6:37 PM In reply to: Its a SPAM or START AN ARGUMENT Post by dougjpBugs? Design quirks? Difficuties for a beginner? Huh? It took me a second, too, to realize that this was a Jerry Springer stunt for postings without any solid examples.
Better to advise newbs to use programs that innately require as few peripheral measures as possible...even if we need to look a little dumb in the process. 
Newbies can easily cope with Firefox
by r3loaded - 10/14/05 8:13 AM In reply to: I could not agree more by patio_nlEver since the 1.0 release of Firefox, I have gone and installed Firefox on my parent's computer (who are both relative newbies). My dad in particular had no trouble in using it (after importing his IE Favourites to Firefox). He praises its clean, uncluttered design which actually allows him more page viewing room than IE. He also loves how it starts up instantly compared to IE. He also prefers how the address bar search directs him to Google rather than MSN Search.
Newbies CAN easily use Firefox!
Browser Security Not Much Of A Difference.
by KyleMAD - 3/22/05 12:18 AM In reply to: I write "Bad advice". by R. Proffitt
Just pitching in.
While security may seem to be the largest impetus for moving everyone to firefox, I doubt the move really makes a large difference to the overall security of one's system. Let's face it... if you were actually targeted by a hacker etc, no firewall or novel browser could prevent it.
I also notice alot of computer newbies, after hearing much about the greatness of firefox, switch to the browser and immediately assume they have become expert computer users.
Security is more than hackers...
by r_remco12 - 10/14/05 4:40 AM In reply to: Browser Security Not Much Of A Difference. by KyleMADSecurity isn't only about hackers, it's lots more. Spyware and viruses are also a part of security.
You are also saying that firewalls are useless things, that is not true! I agree, if a very very good hacker really want's to get into your system a firewall isn't enough. But as normal user a firewall definitly prevents you for atacks by less experienced users.
Firefox definitly makes a large differenc to the security of one's system. Let me give my own experience as example:
I scanned our home system with Ad-aware the other day. We have different user acounts: I have my own, my sister has her own, my dad has his own etc. I am the only one at home who's using firefox. The scan resulted that I had only 4 spyware alerts but the others had a total of 203 spyware alerts! And I'm definitly using the computer a lot more that they do.
So firefox really helps keeping your system more secure.
Hackers aren't God you know
by topazg - 10/14/05 4:54 AM In reply to: Security is more than hackers... by r_remco12If you have a hardware firewall such as a port configurable router, you can in fact make your machine completely hacker proof (bar your own stupidity when going online).
A hacker can only work with what he has, if he has no way of reaching your machine then he has no way of accessing it.
Are you kidding?
by tekoholic - 10/14/05 9:24 AM In reply to: Hackers aren't God you know by topazgNOTHING is 100% secure. That 'port configurable router' is only as good as a lock on your home's front door: They only keep honest people honest. ANYTHING can be hacked, given the motivation and determination. You can keep your false sense of security.
I see...
by topazg - 10/19/05 3:34 AM In reply to: Are you kidding? by tekoholic.. how misunderstood I was.
Certain ports are used for certain communications types, for example, 21 is ftp, 22 is SSH, 23 is Telnet, 25 is SMTP, 80 is HTTP etc. etc. etc... if you leave them open, you grant access. Most machines have to grant access of some kind, for example, you cannot disallow port 80 outbound access through your router if you ever want to browse the internet.
However, incoming ports through any router are "redirected", in many cases to a false and non-existant machine. Set up correctly, all anyone else sees is a blank wall, no door, no lock, nothing, unless they have specifically granted access. Learn about Open, Closed and Stealth ports and you'll see what I mean.
The only genuine security vulnerability lies in the router itself. If your router has an HTTP driven control panel, you could redirect all incoming port 80 access to the router, which would be outstandingly stupid but would allow you to compromise your own security. Technically your router could be hacked if there are bugs in the firmware code that allows it to do what it does, and this is similar to the buffer overflow type errors and others you see with IE and suchlike. Check the manufacturers website regularly and update as and when updates become available, chances are you'll be _safer_ than houses that way.
Seriously, you really don't know what you are talking about here.
Is that so?
by tekoholic - 11/9/05 8:13 PM In reply to: I see... by topazgYes, each port, as you mentioned, has a specifically designated purpose. However, they are NOT, as you seem to think that they are, limited to ONLY allowing the designated purpose to be achieved.
As well, each router IS basically a computer system, although VERY low-end, and specifically tasked. However, the fact that it IS A COMPUTER, attached to the PUBLIC NETWORK (internet), it CAN, given the appropriate levels of determination, BE HACKED.
I've been a tech for 20 years. Don't tell me what I do and do not know...
newbie shmoobie
by cravinbob - 10/14/05 5:02 AM In reply to: Browser Security Not Much Of A Difference. by KyleMADIE is the same as Firefox et. al. Junk! Forums are the worst places to learn or get advice. The first few posts here have the earmarks of a prank which is: bad grammar. CNET promotes this tripe as if it were the last word. "Cecil in Shortbus Alaska wins with his email explaining why you should take this weeks poll about why you should never respond emails with polls... CNET must bow and scrape to all things high tech due to the fact it is their bread and butter. Read any tech review site and you will be loathe to find a bad review. Why is that you suppose? Read Amazon.com or other site that feature user critiques and it should become obvious that anyone with a keyboard can post anything! Just as I am doing now!
If you want to learn then my advice is to do everything you read in these forums. Then you will have to fix all the damage on your own. That is learning!
Clue number 2 is the fact that every site on the 'Net it seems someone is selling fix-it, block-it, anti-virus, firewall, reg cleaner, window wiper, fdisk, never give out your email address, try this marvelous browser software complete with ''help'' instructions written by an obvious mental midget free to try download shareware. Then after you download their crap the only help you can get is in a forum written by ''customers''. All this is assuming you can even get on the Internet because you have been frightened into buying so much software protection your PC is useless unless you enjoy pop-up ads. Hit CTRL ALT DEL and see all the junk that is running on your PC! Then wonder no more why your PC is slow. If you want to slow it down even more you can download a ''speed up your slow PC'' program complete with "toolbar"!
Where else but on the Internet can someone attempt to steal my credit card but it is not really ''stealing'', they call it ''phishing''? Sometimes it is ''spoofing''. This is dumb, people!
The first person to disagree with my post will be the very type of person whom I have warned you to beware.
What twit would rave about Firefox or any other browser anyway? I have even heard people rave about AOL, how revolting yet sad!
Now, I would like to sell a set of new tires. They come with the necessary ''patches''! I believe they are brad XP...
(At this point I am supposed to list each component of my fabulous super PC like on a real forum ...blah blah blah I'm so clever)
RE Hackers not being God
by zboot - 10/14/05 8:46 AM In reply to: newbie shmoobie by cravinbobSomeone stated that if you have a firewall up and barring your own stupidity, hackers can't "see" your system.
Without being a hacker or great programmer myself, I can tell the guy's statement is utter ********. If you buy a router, configure it to operate as an firewalled AP. Setup the windows firewall on your machine. Go online to google and type what's my ip. There is a website that not only gives your your router's ip (the one that everyone (including hackers) would see - unless you went further to anonymize your system) but it also is able to get your local ip!
My router gets hit every few seconds with ppl trying to access it. My router does not broadcast any ssid, nobody but me knows it exists, I just got the cable connection - yet as soon as I was online, i was under attack.
As for the stupid IE vs Firefox - sure, you can make arguments why one is better than the other . .except where it comes to security - that argument is utter ********. IE spawns popups? Firefox does too. You can block popups automatically in Firefox? You can do that in IE too. I challenge some person to actually enumerate a firefox security feature that is NOT implemented in IE as well. If you want to argue usability, go ahead but all the vitriol about IE being unsecure vs Firefox is crap.
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