Computer newbies: If you surf web, DONT use PC for imprtant stuff !
So,...
by Papa Echo - 11/30/07 6:03 PM In reply to: If you surf web, DONT use PC for imprtant stuff ! by stick joe... you got infected bad ? Lost all your files ? Don't grumble. Ask the right questions. Ask for help ! Obviously, you are not doing something right ! Now - what is(are) your problem(s) ?
Yeah he’s right…………
by ny2nv - 12/1/07 5:37 AM In reply to: If you surf web, DONT use PC for imprtant stuff ! by stick joeDon’t get out of bed, they’re waiting for you.
You’re born, you live a little then you die. The important part is you live.
a note to parents...
by scott_789 - 12/2/07 8:33 PM In reply to: If you surf web, DONT use PC for imprtant stuff ! by stick joeI'm amongst those who've never had a malware infection on my PCs, even when I primarily used Windows. I guess I'm pretty knowledgable with computers, but far from being a guru. All I'm saying there is that it does take some awareness to prevent problems, but a person doesn't need to be an expert.
The problem with that though, is that for people who have a number of different users on their computers the risk of problems increases substantially, especially when the other users are adolescents. Teenagers are generally thought to be more knowledgable when it comes to computers than their parents, which is probably true in many cases, but many of them are actually just knowledgable enough to be dangerous.
I spent some time answering questions on Yahoo!Answers awhile back (in my defense it was fast-paced and a little addicting), but it became obvious to me that many of the other users were adolescents. So I can say with some authority here that the typical thought processes of teenagers (little attention to consequences, stubborn in their convictions, and a little deviousness) readily carries over into their computer usage.
Amongst the myriad of questions about tweaking MySpace pages (the "How do I hide/disable the controls for the music player?" being my favorite), are the copious amount of questions about installing P2P software, and the "I forgot the password to the admin account, how do I get into it?". Took me awhile to figure the second one out (what can I say, I'm a little naive). (One kid was even all indignant because his mom wouldn't give him the password to the admin account on her new Vista pc.)
What finally disheartened me there was the continuous exaggerations of a certain web browser's capabilities. Nothing I said would dislodge the beliefs that the browser had "built-in" spyware protection and that serious problems with adware pop-ups couldn't be solved with it's built in "pop-up protection" (all browsers have that now, kids. They're a different kind of pop-ups!) I tried to warn them that those assertions could lead to a rush of misinformation about the browser. When I came across a question asking how to enable the antivirus feature in the browser that someone said it had, I decided that I was fighting a losing battle.
-- my apologies to the OP for hijacking his/her rant with my own, but I've been wanting to share that.
Anyway, there were many of times I left the site thinking: "I feel sorry for these kids' parents!"
I guess what I'm saying is that even if the pc has security protection (freeware apps always worked for me), is fully updated, and there's a NAT router between the computer and the internet; there's what the other users of the pc are doing to worry about.
So if there's critical data on the computer, the answer may not necessarily be to not have it connected to the internet at all, but to be the only user of the pc.
... or of course there's always Linux.
more and more common
by obobskivich - 12/3/07 8:36 PM In reply to: a note to parents... by scott_789I see this exact scenario play out more and more on a daily basis, the adolescent who honestly doesn't know everything about the PC, but refuses to properly learn (not sure how to really say this, basically they don't take input from people, almost like they don't want to de-bunk the thinking that modern children are born to use computers (which makes no logical sense in the first place)).
I'd say, in regards to the OP, it all depends on how you use the computer, if you browse onto a ton of P2P sites, have all of the latest P2P and Torrent clients running 24/7, sit directly connected to your modem, on an unpatched Windows XP (no service packs) box, with no anti-virus and no anti-spyware, which is sadly a fairly common occurance in practice, yeah you can expect to lose and lose big, if you take some basic precautions in using the internet, you'll generally be fine.
Basically, using the internet is like doing anything else in life, you either jump in feet first with no thought, and get burned, or take some precautions, and come out ok.
in my defence...
by shadzofsilver - 12/4/07 1:49 PM In reply to: more and more common by obobskivichAs an adolescent, I must say that is a gross generalization. Not all of us are liabilities. I maintain all three of the computers in my house, which consist of one xp and two vista systems. I do not claim to be an expert, but I know how to protect a network and individual machines from catastrophe. I do the back-ups, install and update firewalls, antivirus, antispyware etc. I can troubleshoot most common windows and program "issues". If I don't know the answer to something, I know where to look. In short, I am able to keep things running smoothly; and consider myself computer competent.
However, I'll be the first to admit that a lot of kids my age are victims of the myspace age. The other day in classes, someone had deleted the internet explorer shortcut on the desktop, and some girl was freaking out because she did not know how to open it (I had to explain the start menu and if that failed the run>iexplore). I see people leave themselves logged in on their aim screen name on public computers. Even worse, I see people check the "save my password" box on said computers. I see people deleting the history on these computers and think that it erases every trace of their (sometimes questionable) browsing.
Perhaps people like me and some of my equally "nerdy" friends are the exception and not the rule. For parents and IT managers everywhere I hope not.
I don't think you understand what his point was.
by strickjh2005 - 12/4/07 11:35 PM In reply to: in my defence... by shadzofsilverHe was saying that the over-generalization that anyone young MUST be good with computers is ridiculous. It was not a rage against all male teens with a computer available. Simply a warning to not let an idiot run the show because he looks just like the guys down at geek squad.
understood.
by shadzofsilver - 12/5/07 12:11 PM In reply to: I don't think you understand what his point was. by strickjh2005I suppose I misinterpreted that. Back on topic:
Take care of the computer and it will take care of you. Make backups, keep anti virus updated (there's free ones), do windows updates, use anti-spyware software (also free), use a hardware or a software firewall, and don't install or run suspicious programs.
Yes, data loss can still happen despite all of this, but if you are prepared then you can recover.
Having a computer connected to the internet involves risk, but if you take the necessary precautions to protect yourself, I believe the benefits outweigh the risks.
yes, i entirely agree
by obobskivich - 12/6/07 8:15 PM In reply to: understood. by shadzofsilverand its good to see a younger member that hasn't been, to use your term, "a victim of the myspace age"
and no, I'm not saying all adolescents are incompetent, I'm saying the majority of them do believe they can run the show because they're young, inexperienced, and are used to having technology handed to them for whatever reason (I'm really curious as to where in history, we as a society agreed that untrained, unexperienced children between 9 and 13 are somehow masters at all things electrical).
Generally your statement " Having a computer connected to the internet involves risk, but if you take the necessary precautions to protect yourself, I believe the benefits outweigh the risks." is in-line with modern IT thinking, yes theres a lot of massive gaping holes and issues with the internet, but theres also a number of benefits, which you've addressed, hopefully there's more people like you, for everyone's sake, as I'm not sure our society could handle its mass populous being, not to sound orwellian or anything, "slaves to the system"
As an adolescent, I must say that is a gross generalization.
by glb613 - 12/7/07 4:55 AM In reply to: in my defence... by shadzofsilverThat's not been my experience. The computers with the worst infections I've cleaned or tried to clean (viruses, spyware, trojans, etc.) were used by kids.
kkk comment, with that kind of mind no wonder
by arexive - 12/5/07 8:53 PM In reply to: If you surf web, DONT use PC for imprtant stuff ! by stick joekkk comment, with that kind of mind no wonder bad things happpen to you
Several additions
by Dango517 - 12/7/07 12:21 AM In reply to: If you surf web, DONT use PC for imprtant stuff ! by stick joeSoftware will not always protect you from these
Watch where you go. Some areas are like the bad part of town if you go there your asking for trouble. I suspect you know were they are. This also applies to aggressive sales sites. Read those legal agreements before you press agree.
Also watch carefully what emails you open and whom you allow yourself and others to interact with.
Protect your Email address. Do not enter it at every site that asks for it. Alias are available.
Keep personal data to yourself specially your address, occupation, real name and the like.
Be very wary of people. Be watchful for the con man and the confidence man remember the shark circles before he/she bites.
Unfortunately these I will probable have to learn again because my instincts fail me at times or I become to hurried to take the necessary precautions. The Phishers are very good at using our own human nature against us. Be wary, on guard, watchful.
Hey mate...don't scare the people
by brbrookes - 12/13/07 3:42 AM In reply to: If you surf web, DONT use PC for imprtant stuff ! by stick joeI use my computer heavily, I download programmes, I do my purchases, burn cds,dvds, get infected by virus, doing format and again I download programmes etc. And most of all....i really enjoy it. Why? Because when I bought my laptop I wanted to make my life easier and have fun. If it is to buy a pc and leave it on desk doing nothing, well.....you may then put some flowers on and you'll have a nice pot. BUY a pc, SURF on the internet, you will get INFECTED (it's inevitable) and START again from the begining. You will LOVE it.
a different view for me ^^
by batuchka - 12/14/07 10:27 PM In reply to: If you surf web, DONT use PC for imprtant stuff ! by stick joeBeen using/storing lots of my work files on my comp for years and currently even use free AV/Anti-spyware and now with hardware firewall from my router i feel rather ok to continue doing so.
A reply to everyones replies
by stick joe - 5/19/08 8:13 PM In reply to: If you surf web, DONT use PC for imprtant stuff ! by stick joeIt seems the consenus has been that I've done none of these obvious things to protect my computer and files, that assumption was WRONG. Despite all the backing up frequently, updating Windows, anti-virus, surfing at safe places only, download only from Microsoft HP and CNET, etc., I've lost very important things anyway. Also, I've never used anyone to repair my PC, I'm adept and do it all myself.
Since I started this thread I've come to learn the "why" in why I said what I did and still maintain : if you have anything important never keep it on computer. One example I learned the hard way a long time ago was when I kept my appointments in the calendar, well the computer crashed and I MISSED those appointments cause I couldn't look at the calendar; I also once kept addresses of relatives whom I rarely write to in an address book, so when the computer crashed and took out the calendar it also took those addresses & I nearly lost permanent contact with my relatives cause I didn't have their contact information anymore.
Funny thing I discovered was : if I have to make backups of everything every hour as new items are added to folders etc., then I may as well keep the hard copy version and skip the computer version entirely because it consumes LESS TIME, TROUBLE, & EXPENSE -plus then I can't lose it, period.
So, that's what I've been doing and will continue to do, never use the computer to store important things since I don't want to lose any of it AND I want to able to access my things "when" I choose to and NOT when the computer decides to let me.
And to explain my comment about having to make frequent backups, I'll give an example : Lets say I have a calendar for May and appointments for 2 days out, if I back this up but then ADD 1 appointment I NOW have to back it up AGAIN or I'll "lose" that 1 appointment I just added; this will be TRUE everytime I add 1 appointment, have to back it up AGAIN, add 1 more appointment back it up AGAIN; on and on it goes. So, as I said, it's EASIER to just keep a paper version calendar and skip the computer so I don't have to make a new backup everytime I add 1 appointment. It's either skip keeping it on computer OR backup the calendar EACH AND EVERY TIME YOU ADD ONE LOUSY APPOINTMENT which is ridiculous.
In my opinion, computers are still stone-age since they have this issue and can't be used for keeping important things on them.
Too Bad You Weren't Here When We Had The Discussion...
by Grif Thomas
- 5/19/08 9:26 PM
In reply to: A reply to everyones replies by stick joe
Although it's nice to see you back after 6 months, it's always better to exchange such ideas when both parties are present. Looks like you threw in the ball and ducked.
I find it strange..., If you feel that way about computers, then stop using them.. I think you need to visit the real world. Unfortunately, EVERY major enterprise uses them, EVERY major financial institution uses them, and so do other individuals who want to work with large amounts of important data efficiently,(which includes a major portion of the known civilized world), and somehow overall, they all keep their appointments and keep their data safe and secure. Are there occasional breaches in the armor? Yep, but it's recoverable.. Backups are only part of it.. Keep the computer running well and use secure computer practices.. If you've lost very important things anyway, then you WEREN'T following correct practices. Simple as that. The government agency I work for has a fair number of mission critical programs/data and we've NEVER lost the data in the 30 years I've worked there.. That doesn't mean we haven't had hard drives fail. We have.. But we had backups...
Many years ago, during the first week of use with my family's first home computer, I created an address book, probably similar to your's. It took a week to type in all the information. Two weeks later, the new computer needed formatting and the address book went away.. I DID NOT lose the data although I had to recreate the address book from my physical hard copy (a three ring binder) that the data came from originally. As before, it took a week to recreate the address book, but it was still there.. In fact, every time a buy a new computer, I have to move all that data from one location to another.. It's done with backups. I DOUBT that you nearly lost permanent contact with your relatives because the computer crashed (you got the data from somewhere originally and should have kept a backup of it somewhere) and even if you did lose the data, then you WEREN'T doing "these obvious things to protect my computer and files"..
By the way, no one said you had to make a backup every hour, although some critical systems use redundant system which do it much quicker than that.. For most home users, as it relates to appointments, you're being silly. (If think ONE appointment is so critical that it needs backing up, write it down somewhere..) If you think it's such a problem, stop using the computer calendar, then write your appointments on wall calendar, or use a notepad, or anything else. That's a backup too. Just remember, if the calendar gets stolen or you lose your notepad, and you don't have a copy, you've got the same thing as a crashed computer.. And if you've never lost your personal hard copy/notepad before, just wait.. It'll happen too.
Hope this helps.
Grif
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