(no subject)

[ellenmillion]

Now that my router problems are solved, I will hopefully refrain from spamming your friendslist with my whines for computer help. :) Though if you have good anti-ad program advice, I'm listening. I plan to install AdAware shortly. I have opted to wait on the tablet until after I at LEAST get the webpage all finished up, 'cause I'm weak and would want to play with it.

In other news, I am late with horoscopes again! Must try to get those done today... T'would be nice to get some articles written, but time is tight, and I would rather get the EMG site worked on. Have some pricing stuff I need to do for PA, too.

Last night, I played Masters of Orion. Lost horribly, but it was really fun and wonderful to unwind for a while. Haven't played a computer game since... about Christmas, I think. A long time, at any rate.

Opened up the Commission Printing Service at PA. Members only for now, so there's another reason for you to join, if you haven't. :)

Tonight I have to go be social, but I'm starting to get the art itch. It's been days. Weeks, even... Oh well, it should be fun anyway...

Comments

[curvature.livejournal.com]

When you install Ad-Aware, you should get the SE version (http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/) - I've found that it's much faster, and more effective than the other versions I've used.
Still just as free though :)

[renatus.livejournal.com]

Also get and use Spybot - Search and Destroy. It has an 'immunize' function that seals up a lot of holes that adware likes to exploit. It also has other nifty features.

Using a non-IE browser will help, too. Mozilla and FireFox have built-in popup blocking that doesn't block user requested popups.

[theroach.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with gsveds and renatus.

We did a test of spyware blocking tools for our magazine (c't magazine) a few weeks ago, and there was no software that was 100% secure, using two or three of them is as close as you can get to safety. Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware were two of the top performers, though.

Also, a good virus scanner (to prevent web sites from adding evil things to your computer without you knowing it), and an alternative browser (Mozilla, Opera, FireFox...) will help prevent a lot of headaches.

Finally, if you're running Windows 2000 or windows XP, don't normally run programs in an administrator account. This is doubly important for XP, because the standard user (and thus the only one a 'normal' user will ever work in) has full rights. As a user with "limited rights", you should still be able to run all your software, but be (relatively) safe from Trojans etc. taking over your computer.