Computers - Page 13

Flinty_McFlint · 08-09-2004, 03:54 PM

Quote:

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Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
An Adrienne Barbeau-bot?
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Quote:

Originally posted by baltassoc
I could pretend I get this, but I don't. Sorry.

Tune in to Cartoon Network's Adult Swim block of programming, and see into the world that is Atticus and str8. I have a vacation home there, but I'm not a permanent resident.

Atticus Grinch · 08-09-2004, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by baltassoc
I could pretend I get this, but I don't. Sorry.

It's from a Sealab 2021 episode where the crew is discussing human brain transplants into robot bodies. Captain Murphy expresses a desire to be an Adrienne Barbeau-bot, with X-ray vision and big chainsaw hands. In a later episode, he gets his wish, and hilarity ensues.

Flinty_McFlint · 08-10-2004, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch

(If I can convince the spouse to give up Solitare. Maybe I'll just get her a Pocket PC.)

For your sake, and your wife's sake, I hope you can come to some agreement regarding who gets to use the computer to play solitaire. Think of the children.

Girlfriend (Olympic Judo contestant) throws herself off a balcony. Boyfriend (another Judo Olympian) throws himself off same balcony days later. The culprit: Solitaire.

Hank Chinaski · 08-10-2004, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Atticus Grinch
An Adrienne Barbeau-bot?

???

Atticus Grinch · 08-20-2004, 02:53 PM

An Internet-connected Windows XP machine lasts an average of 20 minutes before experiencing an IP probe that is likely caused by a worm infection attempt. That's less time than it takes to download all of the MS patches and virus definition updates after getting the machine out of the box.

Windows XP: Surviving the First Day.

Alex_de_Large · 09-01-2004, 02:42 PM

The Mayor of Philadelphia is considering a plan that would provide free 802.11b wireless coverage for the ENTIRE CITY. Sounds like quite a bitch slap to Comcast, one of Philadelphia's biggest corporate citizens, which charges $50 for cable internet service.

NotFromHere · 09-02-2004, 02:25 AM

Wireless router question...
I have a new Linksys Wireless G Broadband router with Speed Booster (woo hoo). Which security setting do I use?
WPA Pre-Shared Key, WAP Radius, Radius or WEP? And what the hell is the difference? And why don't they tell you what the hell they are?

Alex_de_Large · 09-02-2004, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by NotFromHere
Wireless router question...
I have a new Linksys Wireless G Broadband router with Speed Booster (woo hoo). Which security setting do I use?
WPA Pre-Shared Key, WAP Radius, Radius or WEP? And what the hell is the difference? And why don't they tell you what the hell they are?

They're all different security protocols using different algorithims. You can do a bit more reading here. Generally speaking, WAP is more advanced than WEP (it is a newer standard). Which you select will generally depend on what protocol your wireless NIC supports.

mmm3587 · 09-02-2004, 11:59 AM

So, I'm ready to break down and buy a comprehensive security application for Windows XP. It should do the following:

Prevent common successful IP attacks and related;

Scan for and remove adware and spyware;

Filter incoming attachments for viruses;

Allow some security management of a wireless access point;

Perform other standard and customary security functions;

and be easy to use and inexpensive.

Virus scanning of e-mail is not really important, as that's done server-side my my e-mail providers in a more up-to-date and comprehensive way than I could ever hope to do.

What's the killer app these days? I might drop $30 for SpyHunter to remove adware and spyware, but I want a more comprehensive solution. Norton has a bunch of different programs that would be $200 or so altogether, but that seems pricey.

baltassoc · 09-02-2004, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mmm3587
So, I'm ready to break down and buy a comprehensive security application for Windows XP. It should do the following:

What's the killer app these days? I might drop $30 for SpyHunter to remove adware and spyware, but I want a more comprehensive solution. Norton has a bunch of different programs that would be $200 or so altogether, but that seems pricey.

Getting all those feature in one place is dreaming the impossible dream.

My company's chief security guy, who I respect a lot on this kind of thing, recently recommended to me the TrendMicro Internet security suite. Includes anti-virus (can be set to self update), firewall, antispam, and anti-spyware (although this feature, like in all the suites, is weak).

The integrated firewall is going to help protect your computer against intrusion regardless of how its connected to a network (wireless or otherwise). I'm not familiar with a product that specifically addresses wireless issues outside the networking context.

Add on top of that a spyware hunter or two (like SpyHunter, or the somewhat less intuitive but more comprehensive DiamondCS TDS-3 (www.diamondcs.com.au).

baltassoc · 09-02-2004, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by baltassoc
Getting all those feature in one place is dreaming the impossible dream.

More infor.

The single biggest security bang for the buck, after an integrated security suite (and BTW, TrendMicro's is $49.99 list, but you should be able to find a deal to buy it for half that with just a little looking), is to stop using Internet Explorer as your browser and Outlook for you e-mail (if you use real Outlook, with the calendar and journal and stuff, you may not be able to switch for e-mail, but if you use Outlook Express, the alternatives are not just as good, but rather much better).

Switch to Mozilla, either the integrated Mozilla suite or the two stand alone applications (my personal choice) Firefox and Thunderbird. www.mozilla.org.

Finally, I recently picked up the book Computer Security for the Home and Small Office by Thomas Greene. Order it through the Lawtalkers Amazon link. Great book. Pretty understandable. Scary as hell.

NotFromHere · 09-02-2004, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alex_de_Large
They're all different security protocols using different algorithims. You can do a bit more reading here. Generally speaking, WAP is more advanced than WEP (it is a newer standard). Which you select will generally depend on what protocol your wireless NIC supports.

Why so many different choices then?
Is one better to prevent the bastards in my neighborhood from sucking my bandwidth?

ltl/fb · 09-02-2004, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by baltassoc
More infor.

The single biggest security bang for the buck, after an integrated security suite (and BTW, TrendMicro's is $49.99 list, but you should be able to find a deal to buy it for half that with just a little looking), is to stop using Internet Explorer as your browser and Outlook for you e-mail (if you use real Outlook, with the calendar and journal and stuff, you may not be able to switch for e-mail, but if you use Outlook Express, the alternatives are not just as good, but rather much better).

Switch to Mozilla, either the integrated Mozilla suite or the two stand alone applications (my personal choice) Firefox and Thunderbird. www.mozilla.org.

Finally, I recently picked up the book Computer Security for the Home and Small Office by Thomas Greene. Order it through the Lawtalkers Amazon link. Great book. Pretty understandable. Scary as hell.

OK, so I loaded Mozilla and now I'm trying to update McAfee and it says there are updates but when I tell it to update it opens the firefox browser, says done, but doesn't download anything. Help?

baltassoc · 09-02-2004, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ltl/fb
OK, so I loaded Mozilla and now I'm trying to update McAfee and it says there are updates but when I tell it to update it opens the firefox browser, says done, but doesn't download anything. Help?

Weird. Try this. Open up Internet Exporer. It should ask you if you want to set Internet Expolorer as your default browser.* Answer yes (next time you open Mozilla, it'll ask you too, and you can play this all day).

Now try updating McAfee again. If it's still screwed up, it's not Mozilla. It's not entirely unlikely that McAfee's site could be backed up.

If it works, leave Explorer as the default for now. One possibility is that McAfee requires a plug in that isn't installed for Mozilla because you didn't have it on your computer when you installed McAfee. Beyond that, I'd have to sit down with your machine.

I've found Mozilla to be easy to use, but it's still rough around a few edges. You may be better off waiting a few months for the next version to come out if you continue having problems.

* If it doesn't, go to Tools->Internet Options, then select the "Programs" tab and click the box that says something like "Have Explorer check if its the default."

Alex_de_Large · 09-02-2004, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NotFromHere
Why so many different choices then?
Is one better to prevent the bastards in my neighborhood from sucking my bandwidth?

WAP is the most difficult to crack, but many NIC's don't support it. Again, check the specs of your NIC to see what, exactly, you will be able to imliment.

FWIW, I have 128 bit WEP active on my network and feel pretty secure. Simple tings like turning off the SSID broadcast will make you much less attractive to the casual snooper.