Computer warning

http://www.mozilla.org/

Click on Firefox.

Make sure to ad in the AdBlock Plus and No Script add-ons (or similar ones). I think it asks you if you want to add the add-ons after you install.

Or just go here:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/

I've been using Firefox since before it was Firefox. The old Mozilla browsers. Even those OLD Mozilla browsers are still way ahead of the current IE.

I have no certifications. I'm just a geek at heart, used to overclock/benchmark for fun. How sad.

rebelgtp wrote:

turboswede wrote: There's a big difference between a Helpdesk Monkey and a true Admin.

Hey now I know many a helpdesk monkey (I was one for years) that would kill another tech for saying IE was better than the alternatives. It always seemed the people that were helpdesk monkeys with certifications were the ones that had drank the Microsoft koolaid (and normally were worse techs). The guys that just came by it naturally and were true geeks were great techs and saw IE for the POS it is for most circumstances.

Uh yeah, the fact that you and some of your co-workers were interested in learning and kept an open mind meant you weren't just a Helpdesk Monkey. You didn't allow your job to define you, like many others have.

Just like I've met and worked with a number of Admins who were paid better than I simply because they could pass some certification exam after cramming for a few months and dazzle the HR and Management folks with some buzzwords.

The big difference between good admins and those that think they are? The good ones know their limitations and are able to think outside of the box.

turboswede wrote: The big difference between good admins and those that think they are? The good ones know their limitations and are able to think outside of the box.

And we have a winner! That is so funny because I use to keep a Gary Larson (I think) cartoon on my desk that said "think outside the box" and it had these two bums and one was sitting in a box for shelter.

Oh yeah my team was nuts and we had some really good techs on it. We actually drove out the idiots within the first week of the team being formed and hitting the floor. We brought our own laptops into work to have the freedom of doing absolutely anything to them for tech purposes. Our only crash boxes supplied by the company were a Windows 98, XP and a iMac with 10.x.

aircooled wrote: - Do install AVG (free edition) or some other virus scanner (if you don't already have one)

My dad got one the other day that shut down AVG

I run AVG paid edition. My only complaint is that when it's actively scanning, it really hogs up your entire system. So, i simply set it to run when i'm not using the computer.

So far (and i've been using AVG products since... 2002?) it keeps my computer(s) squeeky clean.

I've gone off AVG (had been using the free edition for quite a while) because of its "I'll take over your machine when I want to" scan attitude. I've still got a couple of ESET Nod32 licenses but I don't think I'm going to renew those. For the main machine I'm using a paid for Avira license and despite the somewhat clunky interface, I'm pretty happy with that.

I was a support tech for 4 or so years. IE6 was terrible, I think IE8 is better in terms of security. IE7 is somewhere in between.

I'd recommend Firefox, myself. I hear Chrome is pretty good as well, but don't have much experience with it.

I've had good luck with avast for anti virus.

I think it is funny that every time someone mentions this kind of thing that it devolves into an Apple vs. MS, or IE vs. Firefox, Chrome, etc argument when none of that is relevant.

When one of these windows open (and they aren't always pop-ups) and you tell it to go ahead, you are screwed. MY B-I-L has their computer clamped down to the point where it is panifull to use. And my S-I-L still managed to install one of these anti-virus things on the computer. I had to put a copy of Malware Bytes on a CD so he could get rid of it.

cwh wrote: ESET finished the scan, came up clean. My wife's son is a Big Time Computer Admin, and does not suggest Firefox, but it seems quite popular here. Is there a downside to it?

QUE!?!?!

Well my brain can't process that so I'll move on. Usually there are no downsides - a few things don't work with Firefox, mostly old crappy security cam controllers. But yes switch to Firefox (I highly recommend the Flashblock plugin as well for performance and security), and if you have Adobe Reader installed, remove it and install Foxit Reader. That will close the top 3 infection vectors.

I skipped past some posts, but I'd be glad to remote desktop in on, say, Sunday morning and take a look at your PC. ESET NOD32 is the best commercial AV, I'm kind of surprised it let a virus through, although some black hats release multiple versions of a virus per day, so it can be hard to keep up when all the malware is self-decrypting these days.

Oh and when you see that popup, there IS a way out - Ctrl-Shift-Esc, kill browser from task manager.

I am currently reloading a family members system that had the same thing happen. Whatever it is its already infected in this case, it does it even if the box is unplugged from the net.

Now I'm getting really worried. Gameboy, let's talk. (You have PM)

I had this happen and I didn't download the crap. It took an entire system scan for Malware, new security software (free stuff from Microsoft I believe) and a complete system dump and reinstall. Total PITA and I was down for a week.

fornetti14 wrote: I had this happen and I didn't download the crap. It took an entire system scan for Malware, new security software (free stuff from Microsoft I believe) and a complete system dump and reinstall. Total PITA and I was down for a week.

Yep, mine's in the shop now. $250 for the GeekSquad, $150 - $200 for a local computer repair shop, $40 from a guy at work.

Why can't some of this hope and change stimulus money be spent on a nation-wide firewall, or a team of hit men to rub this stuff out?

Dan