antdude
A Ninja Ant
Premium,VIP
join:2001-03-25
| Consumer Reports: 7 online blunders
»www.consumerreports.org/cro/elec···s-ov.htm from »www.neatorama.com/2008/10/06/onl···lunders/ :
1. Assuming your security software is protecting you
2. Accessing an account through an e-mail link
3. Using a single password for all online accounts
4. Downloading free software
5. Thinking your Mac shields you from all risks
6. Clicking on a pop-up ad that says your PC is insecure
7. Shopping online the same way you do in stores
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Ant @ »antfarm.ma.cx and »aqfl.net. Please do not IM/e-mail me for technical support. Use the forum! Disclaimer: The views expressed in this posting are mine, and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer |
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nwrickert
sand groper
Premium,MVM
join:2004-09-04
Geneva, IL
 ·AT&T Midwest
edit:
October 6th, @01:02PM
| I'll question "4". The others are right.
As for "4", it should be "Downloading free software without adequate checking." There is some pretty good free software, such as "firefox".
(edit) Looking at the site, they do expand on that. Their expanded version is okay.
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AT&T dsl; Westell 327w modem/router; openSuSE 11.0; firefox 3.0.3 |
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zteardrop
join:2005-12-20
Brooklyn, NY
| reply to antdude
said by antdude  :» www.consumerreports.org/cro/elec···s-ov.htm from » www.neatorama.com/2008/10/06/onl···lunders/ : 1. Assuming your security software is protecting you 2. Accessing an account through an e-mail link 3. Using a single password for all online accounts 4. Downloading free software 5. Thinking your Mac shields you from all risks 6. Clicking on a pop-up ad that says your PC is insecure 7. Shopping online the same way you do in stores Consumer Resports reviews/reports on security like its a vaccum cleaner. I dont waste my time reading anything security-related that they've written.
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The official Norton Forum from Symantec: »community.norton.com/norton/ |
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SnowyOne
Premium
join:2003-04-05
Kailua, HI
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·Clearwire Wireless
| reply to antdude
said by antdude :1. Assuming your security software is protecting you 2. Accessing an account through an e-mail link 3. Using a single password for all online accounts 4. Downloading free software 5. Thinking your Mac shields you from all risks 6. Clicking on a pop-up ad that says your PC is insecure 7. Shopping online the same way you do in stores 8. Using AOL |
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CajunTek
Insane Cajun
Premium,MVM
join:2003-08-08
Arlington, TX
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to zteardrop
said by zteardrop :said by antdude :» www.consumerreports.org/cro/elec···s-ov.htm from » www.neatorama.com/2008/10/06/onl···lunders/ : 1. Assuming your security software is protecting you 2. Accessing an account through an e-mail link 3. Using a single password for all online accounts 4. Downloading free software 5. Thinking your Mac shields you from all risks 6. Clicking on a pop-up ad that says your PC is insecure 7. Shopping online the same way you do in stores Consumer Resports reviews/reports on security like its a vaccum cleaner. I dont waste my time reading anything security-related that they've written. Even when they are right?
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da Cajun Darn I hate Malware |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| reply to SnowyOne
said by SnowyOne :8. Using AOL Awh now....I had AOL before Road Runner got to Hilo. I didn't have problems...except for when I beta tested AOL 6 and it wrecked all our computers just before it was to go Gold and AOL refused to push back the release date, released the very build that damaged our computers as Gold Master, promptly had a bunch of users get their computers whacked, and had to entertain a class action lawsuit, all because they refused to listen to their beta testers, all of whom warned that would happen if they did not push back the release date.
Actually though AOL was better than GTE dialup which I first got when I got my first computer. IE 5 had just been released and I installed it and then GTE told me that if I wanted to keep them as my ISP that I had to revert back to IE4. I got AOL instead. I really don't understand why folks hate AOL so much. I enjoyed having AOL and even kept it for awhile after RR came here, and I got it, so I could beta test some more for them.  I tried every local ISP and the fastest they could give me with the ancient GTE phone lines here was 14.4kbps. AOL gave me 31.5kbps so I don't think people should bash AOL. In its time it was a good ISP and no one had to use the internal browser. I never did. I used Netscape 4.5.
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"The same ferocity that our founders devoted to protect the freedom and independence of the press is now appropriate for our defense of the freedom of the internet. The stakes are the same: the survival of our Republic". Al Gore, The Assault on Reason |
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Grail Knight
Who Dares Wins
Premium
join:2003-05-31
Erie, PA | reply to SnowyOne
quote:
8. Using AOL
Ha Ha
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"Facts not FUD". |
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georgermct
Sony H D T V
join:2000-05-12
Bridgeport, CT
| reply to Mele20
said by Mele20 :said by SnowyOne :8. Using AOL Awh now....I had AOL before Road Runner got to Hilo. I didn't have problems...except for when I beta tested AOL 6 and it wrecked all our computers just before it was to go Gold and AOL refused to push back the release date, released the very build that damaged our computers as Gold Master, promptly had a bunch of users get their computers whacked, and had to entertain a class action lawsuit, all because they refused to listen to their beta testers, all of whom warned that would happen if they did not push back the release date. Actually though AOL was better than GTE dialup which I first got when I got my first computer. IE 5 had just been released and I installed it and then GTE told me that if I wanted to keep them as my ISP that I had to revert back to IE4. I got AOL instead. I really don't understand why folks hate AOL so much. I enjoyed having AOL and even kept it for awhile after RR came here, and I got it, so I could beta test some more for them. I tried every local ISP and the fastest they could give me with the ancient GTE phone lines here was 14.4kbps. AOL gave me 31.5kbps so I don't think people should bash AOL. In its time it was a good ISP and no one had to use the internal browser. I never did. I used Netscape 4.5. AOL deserves to be bashed because they are just so ignorant, do stupid thoughtless things to their software, ruin things that actually worked, added junk people didn't need or want, took away features that people did like or wanted, don't listen to their users, don't listen to their beta testers, they drive everything they touch into the ground (Winamp case in point).
They had America in their hands as the number one ISP and threw it all away. |
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zteardrop
join:2005-12-20
Brooklyn, NY
| reply to CajunTek
said by CajunTek :said by zteardrop :said by antdude :» www.consumerreports.org/cro/elec···s-ov.htm from » www.neatorama.com/2008/10/06/onl···lunders/ : 1. Assuming your security software is protecting you 2. Accessing an account through an e-mail link 3. Using a single password for all online accounts 4. Downloading free software 5. Thinking your Mac shields you from all risks 6. Clicking on a pop-up ad that says your PC is insecure 7. Shopping online the same way you do in stores Consumer Resports reviews/reports on security like its a vaccum cleaner. I dont waste my time reading anything security-related that they've written. Even when they are right? Yes, even when they might be right. You dont build credibility overnight. And Consumer's Report's credibility is in the toilet right now due to recent AV tests they've done.
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The official Norton Forum from Symantec: »community.norton.com/norton/ |
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Mac user
@rr.com | reply to antdude
Thinking your Mac shields you from all risks
I'll take my chances.. |
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Ryan
join:2001-03-03
Attleboro, MA
·Comcast
| reply to Mele20
said by Mele20 :said by SnowyOne :8. Using AOL Awh now....I had AOL before Road Runner got to Hilo. I didn't have problems...except for when I beta tested AOL 6 and it wrecked all our computers just before it was to go Gold and AOL refused to push back the release date, released the very build that damaged our computers as Gold Master, promptly had a bunch of users get their computers whacked, and had to entertain a class action lawsuit, all because they refused to listen to their beta testers, all of whom warned that would happen if they did not push back the release date. Actually though AOL was better than GTE dialup which I first got when I got my first computer. IE 5 had just been released and I installed it and then GTE told me that if I wanted to keep them as my ISP that I had to revert back to IE4. I got AOL instead. I really don't understand why folks hate AOL so much. I enjoyed having AOL and even kept it for awhile after RR came here, and I got it, so I could beta test some more for them. I tried every local ISP and the fastest they could give me with the ancient GTE phone lines here was 14.4kbps. AOL gave me 31.5kbps so I don't think people should bash AOL. In its time it was a good ISP and no one had to use the internal browser. I never did. I used Netscape 4.5. Im not sure what your browser had to do with your isp.. but AOL was probably the worst dial up provider out there and charged a ridiculous amount of money for a bad service. Dont get be wrong it was good for friends in family back in the early days of windows 95 and late windows 3.1 where it installed tcpip for you and winsock and came packaged with its own built in web browser, but after that it was a waste of money and way over priced. Their numbers were constantly busy and pages were littered with ads making a 56k connection seem even slower. About the time i switched to windows 98 a local isp provider was introduced and i was paying 6 dollars a month for a service that was top notch. There were also plenty of national isp's offering service for around 10 dollars a month. |
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Steve
R.I.P. 3B2
Consultant
join:2001-03-10
Tustin, CA
| reply to antdude
Security advice from Consumer Reports  |
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rockerfelerz
join:2005-08-25
Dartmouth, NS
| reply to antdude
For number six they say
"What you can do: When closing a pop-up (shown at left), carefully click on the X on the upper left or right corner, not within the window."
not the best advice, since the "window is often not a real window but a graphic made to look like one. Clicking anywhere on it including the "x" may activate the malware.
I would try alt+f4, or kill the process from the task manager. |
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jbob
Reach Out and Touch Someone
Premium
join:2004-04-26
Little Rock, AR
·Comcast
·AT&T Southwest
edit:
October 9th, @03:05PM
| reply to Mele20
said by Mele20 :said by SnowyOne :8. Using AOL Awh now....I had AOL before Road Runner got to Hilo. I didn't have problems...except for when I beta tested AOL 6 and it wrecked all our computers just before it was to go Gold and AOL refused to push back the release date, released the very build that damaged our computers as Gold Master, promptly had a bunch of users get their computers whacked, and had to entertain a class action lawsuit, all because they refused to listen to their beta testers, all of whom warned that would happen if they did not push back the release date. There was an ISP in Hawaii that had posted right on their site they would not accept new accounts from former AOL users. Seems like it was something like 8080hi.com but it's been awhile now.
Found it: »www.flex.com/sign_up/
Funny it's still there. |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| ahhh...Flex. That is not true he wouldn't accept former AOL users because I almost signed up. The reason for the reluctance though is because Flex is a bare bones ISP. You had to know exactly how to set everything up and most AOL users wouldn't have the vaguest idea. The sole reason Flex was the cheapest (still is) dialup ISP in Hawaii (they are all around the Mainland too now but not back in 98-99) is because they have NO technical support. If you didn't know how to set up Outlook Express (and how many AOL users back then would?) you were out of luck. He didn't want to be bothered with questions because it was by not providing any support that he could make it so inexpensive. Gee, you are bringing back memories here... 
As for 808hi.com....that's a friend of mine. He also runs »www.modemsite.com/56k/index.asp and lived in Kona for many years then sold his coffee farm a few years ago, and traveled the world, and now is in Honolulu.
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"The same ferocity that our founders devoted to protect the freedom and independence of the press is now appropriate for our defense of the freedom of the internet. The stakes are the same: the survival of our Republic". Al Gore, The Assault on Reason |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| reply to Ryan
You must not have had a computer very long because GTE was not the only ISP to act that way about a browser upgrade. A lot of them would not support a browser upgrade until they had trained all their support techs on it and that would be a year after the browser upgrade was first out. AOL already had its techs trained on IE5 so that when I got it on the day Microsoft released it they were ready. GTE and others were not ready and forced users back to IE4 or told them to get another ISP.
When I first got Road Runner, they tried to force me to go through their PROXY browser crap. I told them no way and they did not tell me to get another ISP but they forced their Proxy on friends of mine. AOL never did anything like that. You could use any browser while connected via AOL. That package deal you liked was absolute crap. I never used their internal IE. I used MY browser with AOL as my ISP. Most people didn't even know you could do that.
As for saying AOL had busy numbers...nah. I had AOL from June 1999-June 2001 and I never got a busy signal and I never got kicked off. I used to stay on 24 hours and signoff only when I needed to use the phone. I had incoming calls routed to my voice modem so I didn't miss any incoming calls and the answering machine in the modem took all calls, but I had to disconnect from AOL to place a phone call.
I also did not pay for the second year of AOL. I got it free. But as for $10 ISPs there were NONE in Hawaii except Flex (and it was $5 back then). All of them were $20 and AOL was $18.50 (I had a discount plan). During the time I had AOL, I tried Earthlink when it finally came here and it was horrible. I also tried the fastest dialup provider in Hawaii which was in Kona and the owner bragged that he knew he could get me at least 45kbps down (I had 31.5 with AOL). He had to eat his own words after spending about two hours trying to give me the speed increase. The fastest I got with his Turquoise service was 23kbps. Same with Earthlink...bragged they had fast dialup...nope. They gave me 14.6kbps. AOL was the best in Hawaii at 31.5kbps.
My Road Runner backup dialup service (which is free and unlimited) uses the same AOL phone numbers I used to dial when I had AOL dialup. I have never gotten a busy signal and I have to use it frequently as Road Runner is a mess for us now that it goes into Orange, California RR and from there usually on Level 3. Level 3 is out in Los Angeles FREQUENTLY. I can't get to this site because it is routed, as most sites are, via L3 in LA. So, I have to use AOL dialup numbers so I can get to this site whenever L3 drops off the face of the earth for awhile as they still use their own ATDN which is much better backbone.
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"The same ferocity that our founders devoted to protect the freedom and independence of the press is now appropriate for our defense of the freedom of the internet. The stakes are the same: the survival of our Republic". Al Gore, The Assault on Reason |
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Jason
Dear Penthouse Forum
Premium
join:2001-01-24
38.2967 Lat
clubs:
| Got R.R. cable at the naval housing on the Pearl Harbor base in'99 IIRC.
Might have been '98
Ah.. back in the wild, wild west days of highspeed. a neighbor and I would swap files over Road Runner cable at 40-50mbps, as I recall.
-Jason
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A sucking chest wound is just nature's way of telling you to slow down. |
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Mele20
Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
| My insurance agent was on Oahu and she had RR back then. I was sooo envious. She downloaded every classic rock song she could find on a bittorrent client and she was uncapped. Oceanic only capped the last of the folks on Cybersurfer about two years ago. Some of the tier 3 techs were still on it to the very end. Here I was, with 31.5kbps dialup. Then RR came to Kona in 2000 but not here until Jan 2001 and our building was wired June 2001. It was such a long wait for us neighbor islanders.
Oceanic helped build RR and they had it first about end of 96. Interesting to read the history.
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"The same ferocity that our founders devoted to protect the freedom and independence of the press is now appropriate for our defense of the freedom of the internet. The stakes are the same: the survival of our Republic". Al Gore, The Assault on Reason |
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